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Abu Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the leading national entity for development aid, highlighted its efforts to achieve sustainable development in the global healthcare sector as part of its ongoing priority to improve the health and well-being of people in developing countries.
In a report issued by the Fund to mark World Health Day that falls on 7 April, ADFD revealed that it has allocated AED2.5 billion till date to support vital healthcare projects across the developing world. Seeking to provide exceptional medical services to the populations of the beneficiary countries, the Fund has financed the construction of hospitals and treatment centres, purchase of medical equipment and medicines, and hosting of preventive health programmes. In a bid to ensure the effectiveness of development assistance in this field, the Fund has stepped up collaboration with international relief organisations to meet the urgent healthcare needs of people in developing countries.
His Excellency Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD, said: “World Health Day presents an ideal opportunity to stress the importance of making high-quality healthcare available in the developing world. Since its inception in 1971, ADFD has worked relentlessly to improve the quality of healthcare services in developing countries. The Fund has identified healthcare as one of the priority sectors that promote sustainable development.”
He added: “With the continued support of the Government of Abu Dhabi, ADFD has contributed to the financing of major healthcare projects across the developing world over the past years. In line with the objectives of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), healthcare is a key sector prioritised by ADFD as part of its funding strategy, and the projects the Fund supported in these field have translated into a profound impact on the lives of millions of people worldwide.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that World Health Day 2018 will be marked under the theme ‘Universal Health Coverage: Everyone, Everywhere’ to ensure that all people across the globe have access to basic healthcare services without facing any financial challenges. On the occasion, WHO called on world leaders to establish an integrated and effective healthcare system, emphasising that health is a fundamental right of every human being.
WHO provides effective healthcare solutions to people in developing countries who do not have access to essential healthcare services, in addition to promoting health awareness, and running global health initiatives that aim to combat the outbreak of epidemics and other diseases.
Access to comprehensive healthcare services is one of the top priorities for the international community, as millions of people around the world continue to suffer due to the lack of adequate healthcare. The healthcare sector often cannot keep pace with the continued population growth in developing countries, posing a serious concern for governments. Achieving sustainable development goals in these countries requires the introduction of sustainable healthcare and treatment solutions.
His Excellency Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi also noted that it is imperative to galvanise efforts to enhance the healthcare sector to achieve WHO’s development goals and create safer and more prosperous societies. This will, in turn, boost the development of other sectors in line with the priorities set by developing countries.
Among the strategic healthcare projects funded by ADFD is the 200-bed children's hospital in King Hussein Medical City in Jordan. The Fund earmarked AED73 million for the first two phases of the project. Fitted out with the latest medical equipment to offer specialised care and treatment, the hospital has contributed to the development of the healthcare sector in Jordan through enhancing the quality of health services available to its citizens. Furthermore, ADFD supported the expansion of King Hussein Medical City through allocating AED735 million towards the construction of a new 940-bed hospital. The state-of-the-art facility accommodates more than 1,200 patients daily. ADFD also funded the Al-Bashir Hospital and the King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan.
In Pakistan, ADFD provided AED94 million to build the Emirates Hospital – an integrated specialty medical centre with 1,000 beds. Catering to Pakistani military personnel and their families, as well as civilians with critical conditions, the facility has the capacity to receive 6,000 patients daily. The hospital is also equipped with laboratories and lecture halls to train military personnel and civilians to perform medical duties.
In the Seychelles, ADFD funded an AED16.3 million integrated healthcare project that seeks to provide high-quality healthcare and treatment at an affordable cost.
In Turkmenistan, the Fund allocated AED182 million towards the development of a series of integrated health centres that aim to improve the quality of healthcare services and to treat complicated diseases in a bid to reduce disabilities and mortality rates among the population.
Moreover, ADFD financed the construction of the AED16 million Sheikh Khalifa Hospital in the Comoros and an AED562 million cardiac centre in Bahrain that seeks to reduce the pressure on specialised heart disease treatment facilities in the country.
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