DUBAI // Dubai Cares will contribute Dh11 million over four years to a school programme that will treat children across India for parasitic worms.
The Indian government’s National Deworming Programme will be launched in 12 states on Tuesday, which has been declared National Deworming Day in India.
It will be the largest single-day deworming effort in the world, as it targets an initial 140 million children at risk from parasitic worms in schools and preschools.
Dubai Cares has partnered with Evidence Action’s Deworm the World Initiative, which tackles worm infections, anaemia and malnourishment among children, to support the programme. It will, over four years, develop national deworming guidelines and communication campaigns, conduct surveys on the prevalence of parasitic worms, and provide technical assistance.
Tariq Al Gurg, the chief executive of Dubai Cares, said: “Addressing the public health threat of neglected tropical diseases is high on our list.
“Deworming children promotes children’s overall health and ability to learn. To have a tangible impact, these programmes need to be scaled up and implemented at a national level, as India is doing.”
Saeed Mohammed Al Muhairi, the acting charge d’affaires at the UAE Embassy in New Delhi, said: “The UAE is well known for extending humanitarian aid and a helping hand, which stems from the vision and wise leadership of the country.
“We are proud that Dubai Cares is contributing to support efforts to eliminate the public health threat of parasitic worms among at-risk children in India.”
As part of the programme, Dubai Cares will support Evidence Action’s work with the government of India to scale up the new programme.
T P Seetharam, the India ambassador to the UAE, said: “It is the work of organisations such as Dubai Cares that has helped the UAE make its mark on the world stage as a key player in the philanthropic sector.
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