World leaders came together in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday to pledge billions of dollars for a final push to wipe polio from the face of the Earth.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, was joined by Bill Gates, the Microsoft billionaire and philanthropist, to renew the fight against preventable diseases that afflict some of the world’s poorest people, under the Global Eradication Initiative.
In total, $2.6 billion (Dh9.5bn) was pledged by governments and charitable organisations to finally stamp out polio. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the two remaining countries with the virus in circulation.
At the Reaching the Last Mile Forum at Louvre Abu Dhabi, there were also a series of separate commitments aimed at combating neglected tropical diseases including river blindness, guinea worm and trachoma.
They affect about 1.6 billion people, mainly in poverty-hit communities.
“A new era in global health” had begun, Mr Gates said, with many diseases “now in retreat”.
But despite progress in wiping out polio, with the second of three strains declared eradicated this year, he said work must go on to achieve the final milestone.
Mr Gates said the infrastructure put in place for the polio campaign would then be used to stamp out other diseases, helping the world’s children for decades to come.
“Any number other than zero is a problem,” he said. “Polio can spread very quickly. So as long as there’s any polio in the world, we need to keep vaccinating all children in the world.
“If we stopped all the eradication efforts, polio could have a resurgence, going back to hundreds of thousands of cases.”
About 18 million people who would have been paralysed by polio escaped because of vaccination efforts so far, Mr Gates said.
“They don’t know who they are, but in fact their lives are far, far better because of the efforts we have made," he said.
“While these last steps are undoubtedly the toughest, I’m optimistic that we will eradicate polio.
"The renewed financial support today from donors, including the generous increase from Sheikh Mohamed, underscores the confidence the world continues to have.”
Mr Gates pledged an extra $1.08bn to the final drive to eradicate polio, through his charitable foundation.
Sheikh Mohamed pledged a further $160 million, with nations including Pakistan, the UK, Germany, United States and Norway also committing significant resources.
Charitable donors included Rotary International, which pledged $150m, and Michael Bloomberg, the US politician and businessman who pledged $50m through his philanthropic foundation.
Meanwhile, the UAE announced that the world’s first ever World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day will take place on January 30 next year, to galvanise global support and raise awareness of a cause that has been championed by the country for years.
Polio can spread very quickly, so as long as there's any polio in the world, we need to keep vaccinating all children in the world.
Three new partners were announced for the Reaching the Last Mile Fund, which was set up by Sheikh Mohamed and is supported by Mr Gates, to end river blindness and lymphatic filariasis.
In 2018, the initiative delivered more than 13.5 million treatments for the two diseases, and trained 76,000 healthcare workers.
The event also honoured frontline health workers who deliver vaccinations and treat patients with conditions such as Ebola.
They included Rahane Lawal, a mother of ten who saw her father-in-law shot dead and was kidnapped by bandits as a result of her work promoting vaccination in Nigeria.
A lifetime achievement award was given to William Foege, 83, a US physician who is credited with creating the plan that led to the elimination of smallpox.
Accepting the award through a video message, Mr Foege said those battling preventable diseases, including health workers and government leaders, were “rewriting history before it happens”.
One day, he said, they would be held in the same esteem as influential Renaissance and Enlightenment era figures such as Voltaire and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
Progress was also hailed by Tedros Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organisation, who said in his address that he looked forward to the day polio joined smallpox in being completely eradicated.
But Mr Ghebreyesus warned against complacency, and said many diseases afflicting poor people were a symptom of the deeper problem of inequality.
“We can and will make polio history,” he said. “One day, children will not need to be vaccinated against polio.
"But we know that even when polio is eradicated, even when guinea worm is eradicated, even when malaria is eradicated, children will continue to suffer from other threats.
“Guinea worm and malaria are symptoms of a deeper sickness, which is why, ultimately, our fight is not against a single disease.
"Our fight is against inequality. Our fight is against a world in which people get sick and die simply because they are poor, or female, or a refugee.
“Our fight is for a fundamental human right, a right to health for everyone, everywhere.”
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
match info
Chelsea 2
Willian (13'), Ross Barkley (64')
Liverpool 0
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
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Avengers 3: Infinity War: an American superhero film released in 2018 and based on the Marvel Comics story.
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Lucifer: is a 2019 Malayalam-language action film. It dives into the gritty world of Kerala’s politics and has become one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 630bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh810,000
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Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
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Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
Super Rugby play-offs
Quarter-finals
- Hurricanes 35, ACT 16
- Crusaders 17, Highlanders 0
- Lions 23, Sharks 21
- Chiefs 17, Stormers 11
Semi-finals
Saturday, July 29
- Crusaders v Chiefs, 12.35pm (UAE)
- Lions v Hurricanes, 4.30pm
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
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Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.