![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QZGHQQHFP5GZPEKKPLNUJRNTCU.jpg?smart=true&auth=2f79087c9d52cd9129eb361fe133f1b5526694d9a906fb74230ad2806e6b2652&width=400&height=225)
Dr Carol Karutu, vice president for programmes at The End Fund.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AF5OCVJHMZEDFOKHCHK5ZMF4HU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b5ef2a7afd54ecb4ab466b0d8730a7ea35457caad115c425e9ba2ab7d757306d&width=400&height=225)
Reaching the Last Mile Fund holds a press conference at the Abu Dhabi Youth Club on Tuesday. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/24E5QSGKVVHDHEQGRF57CY64UY.jpg?smart=true&auth=52b2bfcd7217319e53058146536a68e43efc660bc72fa2ab78c878e4bfddf6a7&width=400&height=225)
Fikre Seife, neglected tropical diseases programme leader for the Ministry of Health in Ethiopia, says the total eradication of lymphatic filariasis was now in sight within its borders.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WCYEYXGSLVH4HA5XDS5O3T23DU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ecb30a1cefccd9eea0c1abe60c2f7791c98942cb4e1f551a7ce6017186029d99&width=400&height=225)
Alan McCormick, board member and partner of Legatum, a company that invests money in global initiatives to help improve lives.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZSRX2TYWERC2FOKC7ZNEKRMG4M.jpg?smart=true&auth=5a44bcdd7984db93d240778b787e7370208208ea4b8d9a1e086458aa5ae8e50c&width=400&height=225)
Walter Panzirer, centre, trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W4JQNYSYUFFFXBBO6VS6C7TDA4.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d6d74ef52d600187fbfafc60462aa665aab972b5713c96d0c4e5afb0861ba1b&width=400&height=225)
Joy Ruwodo, senior director for public affairs at the End Fund, a private philanthropic initiative to combat the five most common neglected tropical diseases.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JZ5FBYCUHNEVPBLVQAE5FFU26Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=190c78d1b2e915aaff0c80b5f21db3f92caa0cf50d93055d33a3a5b89f865c82&width=400&height=225)
Tala Al Ramahi, director of the Office of Strategic Affairs at the Crown Prince Court, Abu Dhabi.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BUC6HJ2CPRE6NHC7BYYSZHKWRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=804fdf9514c5c313a7270e85392f8a1b3783ca27097eef0668145073df9ca268&width=400&height=225)
Reaching the Last Mile Fund press conference at the Abu Dhabi Youth Club.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QZGHQQHFP5GZPEKKPLNUJRNTCU.jpg?smart=true&auth=2f79087c9d52cd9129eb361fe133f1b5526694d9a906fb74230ad2806e6b2652&width=400&height=225)
Dr Carol Karutu, vice president for programmes at The End Fund.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AF5OCVJHMZEDFOKHCHK5ZMF4HU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b5ef2a7afd54ecb4ab466b0d8730a7ea35457caad115c425e9ba2ab7d757306d&width=400&height=225)
Reaching the Last Mile Fund holds a press conference at the Abu Dhabi Youth Club on Tuesday. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/24E5QSGKVVHDHEQGRF57CY64UY.jpg?smart=true&auth=52b2bfcd7217319e53058146536a68e43efc660bc72fa2ab78c878e4bfddf6a7&width=400&height=225)
Fikre Seife, neglected tropical diseases programme leader for the Ministry of Health in Ethiopia, says the total eradication of lymphatic filariasis was now in sight within its borders.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WCYEYXGSLVH4HA5XDS5O3T23DU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ecb30a1cefccd9eea0c1abe60c2f7791c98942cb4e1f551a7ce6017186029d99&width=400&height=225)
Alan McCormick, board member and partner of Legatum, a company that invests money in global initiatives to help improve lives.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZSRX2TYWERC2FOKC7ZNEKRMG4M.jpg?smart=true&auth=5a44bcdd7984db93d240778b787e7370208208ea4b8d9a1e086458aa5ae8e50c&width=400&height=225)
Walter Panzirer, centre, trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W4JQNYSYUFFFXBBO6VS6C7TDA4.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d6d74ef52d600187fbfafc60462aa665aab972b5713c96d0c4e5afb0861ba1b&width=400&height=225)
Joy Ruwodo, senior director for public affairs at the End Fund, a private philanthropic initiative to combat the five most common neglected tropical diseases.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JZ5FBYCUHNEVPBLVQAE5FFU26Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=190c78d1b2e915aaff0c80b5f21db3f92caa0cf50d93055d33a3a5b89f865c82&width=400&height=225)
Tala Al Ramahi, director of the Office of Strategic Affairs at the Crown Prince Court, Abu Dhabi.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BUC6HJ2CPRE6NHC7BYYSZHKWRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=804fdf9514c5c313a7270e85392f8a1b3783ca27097eef0668145073df9ca268&width=400&height=225)
Reaching the Last Mile Fund press conference at the Abu Dhabi Youth Club.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QZGHQQHFP5GZPEKKPLNUJRNTCU.jpg?smart=true&auth=2f79087c9d52cd9129eb361fe133f1b5526694d9a906fb74230ad2806e6b2652&width=400&height=225)
Dr Carol Karutu, vice president for programmes at The End Fund.
Ethiopia could be free of lymphatic filariasis in three years after UAE-led initiative
Reaching the Last Mile Fund has provided significant help to tackle neglected tropical diseases
![Gillian Duncan](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F736ebb26-e270-44c5-96a2-80452d783888.png?smart=true&auth=6b2c4dc0614f332daaa4e848c41f090496fd16da3ccccaa940132372e6a74710&width=70&height=70)
Gillian Duncan
27 April, 2022
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