15 June 2020
The COVID-19 global pandemic continues to impact everyone around the world and every aspect of our daily lives at home, at work and in the community. As Dubai re-opens for business and COVID-19 restrictions ease we are grateful to the government and our leaders for their guidance, to the heroes who kept us safe and to our partners who continue to support Al Jalila Foundation. My team and I have returned to the office and I am happy to inform you that everyone is in good health.
12-year-old Muayad Al Arjani was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, better known as ‘brittle bones disease’, and was unable to stand or walk without breaking bones in his legs. He was confined to a wheelchair throughout his childhood, unable to play with his friends or lead a normal life.
Due to the lack of corrective treatment in Palestine life was a struggle for Muayad who was flown to Dubai for treatment with the help of The Little Wings Foundation in partnership with Al Jalila Foundation.
Muayad underwent a complex surgery to insert telescopic steel rods into his legs and repair the repeated fractures which will allow him more independence and, hopefully one day, free him from his wheelchair.
Life was hard for Muayad’s mother Mona Al Tarabeen, raising five daughters and two brothers in war-torn Gaza so when Dr Sinclair, orthopaedic surgeon and founder of The Little Wings Foundation, confirmed they were bringing him to the UAE for treatment, the family were overjoyed.
“It was very difficult to find help in our country. I am so grateful for this life-changing gift and filled with hope that Muayad can walk like other children and be happy.”
The Little Wings Foundation provides medical assistance to children who have musculoskeletal deformities in the Middle East. The foundation is run by volunteers, and since 2018 it has been working with Al Jalila Foundation to help facilitate life-transforming treatment to vulnerable children in the region.
Read more here.
Roderick had always been an active healthy man when he uncharacteristically began to develop a persistent fever, sore throat and nausea that he wasn’t recovering from.
Once he checked in to Dubai Hospital in July 2019 results revealed that he was suffering from acute myeloid leukemia and was in need of life-saving treatment. The doctors began chemotherapy immediately but Roderick discovered his healthcare plan was unable to carry the cost for his entire treatment. Roderick reached out and found support he needed from Al Jalila Foundation to complete the full course of vital medical care.
After 7 months Roderick was discharged from the hospital and while his treatment continues the doctors are very happy as he shows steady progress.
“I am already gaining weight, my hair is growing back and I feel my strength returning. I know that I will win this battle as there are a lot of people supporting my journey including Al Jalila Foundation. Thank you for your kindness.”
Through A’awen, Al Jalila Foundation provides treatment support to patients in need and has to date has given hope and healing to more than 844 adults and children in the UAE suffering from chronic illness.
Kareema, an Emirati mother, recently joined 100 parents of children with intellectual disabilities to graduate from the 19th cohort of Ta’alouf Parents Training Program, the biggest cohort to date held in Dubai. Her 18-year-old daughter, Huda, was born with physical and mental disabilities which has been a driving force behind Kareema’s commitment and passion to support people of determination.
Kareema has tirelessly supported her daughter to finish high school and encouraged her to develop her artistic drawing talents. Huda has participated in several competitions and showcased her artwork in a number of galleries and even has her own Instagram account @artist_huda_karam. Kareema includes her daughter in meetings and social gatherings which helps to lift the stigma in the community encouraging the inclusion of all people in society.
Inspired by her experience with the Ta’alouf Parents Training and as an active member in the RAK Club for People of Determination, Kareema was instrumental in assisting Al Jalila Foundation to register other parents for the cohort held in Ras Al Khaimah.
Kareema is one of 886 families across the Emirates to have graduated from the Ta’alouf program to empower children of determination to live to their full potential.
Al Jalila Foundation, a member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, announced today that applications for its 2020/2021 postgraduate medical international scholarships have opened. As part of the country’s response to the global novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Foundation’s scholarship programme will help prepare a cadre of Emirati healthcare professionals to deal with viral diseases in the future.
With COVID-19 cases increasing quickly around the world and the total number of confirmed cases reaching three million, the outbreak has crippled health systems in many countries, primarily due to a shortage of resources, manpower and equipment. Medical capacity is critical to the success of a nation’s healthcare sector and the UAE has been exemplary in managing the health crisis rapidly.
To help proactively respond to both the local and global COVID-19 pandemic and to bolster the UAE’s capacity to address this pandemic and other viral diseases in the future, Al Jalila Foundation invites UAE Nationals to apply for postgraduate scholarships at world class international universities in a number of medical fields: virology, genetics and genomics, nanotechnology, stem cells, immunology and biomedical data science.
Increasing the availability of infectious disease specialists in-country will support the UAE in its mission to develop the best healthcare system in the world; it will also strengthen the country’s medical research capacity to respond to pandemics and quickly save lives.
Her Excellency Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg, Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Member of the Board of Trustees of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “The medical profession represents one of the most noble and greatest services rendered to mankind. Today with the coronavirus pandemic, we are all witnessing the courage of healthcare workers as they risk their lives to save patients’ lives. Health is the cornerstone of a nation’s longevity, economic development and sustainability and at Al Jalila Foundation we aim to build medical capacity to strengthen the health system to support the government’s efforts in safeguarding human health.”
Since the launch of the scholarship programme, Al Jalila Foundation has awarded 56 scholarships in nursing, dentistry, public health, pharmacy, molecular biology and biotechnology, among others at local institutions and three international scholarships at Harvard Medical School and Boston University. Al Jalila Foundation has invested AED 15.5 million to strengthen the UAE’s medical capabilities and continues to monitor the emerging healthcare needs to respond accordingly.
Dr. Abdulkareem Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, commented: “COVID-19 has highlighted a greater need for highly skilled medical professionals in a number of specialisations to address viral diseases and pandemics. If we look at the global frontrunners in healthcare, what sets them apart are their investments in developing their human capital. We are proud to once again extend financial support to aspiring Emirati healthcare professionals enabling them to specialise and further build the expertise to contribute to the wellbeing of the nation. Not only will our scholarships help to develop capabilities, they will build capacity, continuity and sustainability in the UAE’s healthcare sector. Each stream of graduates will contribute to the country’s quality of healthcare – and, by extension, the quality of life.”
The application deadline for Al Jalila Foundation international scholarships is 7 July 2020. Interested applicants can find more information and application guidelines on Al Jalila Foundation’s website www.aljalilafoundation.ae/scholarships.
May 2020
This Ramadan, you and your families remain in our thoughts and I hope that you are healthy and staying positive during these very exceptional times. The Holy Month is a time of reflection, spending time with family and most importantly, giving to those in need. Whilst this Ramadan may be different, the values remain the same. We have already seen so many acts of kindness as the community rallies together to help people at the frontlines fighting the pandemic and those financially impacted by it.
During these uncertain times, mental health support has never been more vital and Al Jalila Foundation is proud to be at the forefront of pioneering research in the UAE by supporting scientists addressing the issue.
Al Jalila Foundation research grant recipient, Professor Leontios Hadjileontiadis from Khalifa University, used cutting-edge technology to develop a first-of-its-kind mobile app to help diagnose and detect depression in users.
The innovative app called ‘Type of Mood’, available on Android and iOS, detects depressive disorders by recording four parameters related to keystroke dynamics while the user interacts with the phone’s keyboard. The data calculated is sensitive to the pressure applied on the keys and the time taken to switch between keys while typing. The app also connects to healthcare professionals and encourages those found at risk to consult with doctors for medication, if necessary.
The app is linked to the American Neurology Centre and has been operational for more than two years. Since launching, it has helped detect and record several cases of depression signaling support from professionals.
In 2019, Professor Leontios Hadjileontiadis was recognised for his ground-breaking work with the Applied Sciences Research Award as part of Dubai Healthcare City Authority’s Excellence Awards.
Al Jalila Foundation, a member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, dedicated to transforming lives through medical innovation, today announced that the Ahmed Seddiqi Family donated AED 10 million to advance local medical research focused on coronavirus and other viral diseases affecting mankind.
While the world is still coming to terms with the novel coronavirus COVID-19 global outbreak there has never been a greater need for life saving treatment and medical breakthroughs that could end the pandemic and save millions of lives. Since its inception in 2013, Al Jalila Foundation has invested over AED 25 million to advance medical research in the UAE and now aims to extend its research portfolio to address the current COVID-19 global health crisis.
Abdul Hamied Ahmed Seddiqi, Vice Chairman, Seddiqi Holding, said: “The world is going through a very challenging time and we salute the healthcare workers on the frontlines working tirelessly to save lives. We have been working closely with Al Jalila Foundation over the years and we are honoured to support the organisation’s mission to advance medical research in the UAE. It is our national duty to safeguard the health and safety of our people and continue to uphold the values of philanthropy, compassion and service to humanity instilled by our forefathers.”
Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “As the UAE looks toward the next 50 years we are inspired by the great strides we are taking in medical innovation and the advancement of science and research. We are extremely grateful for this significant donation from the Ahmed Seddiqi Family who, like us, believe that investing in medical research is critical to the longevity and sustainability of future generations. The world has changed significantly and as we go through this critical phase we are depending on science to save lives. Now more than ever we are counting on scientists and doctors coming together to develop better diagnostic testing, treatments, and gain a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 biology to combat the disease.”
Since its inception in 2013, Al Jalila Foundation has lead opportunities to increase innovative and impactful medical research investing AED 25 million to award 95 research grants and 8 international research fellowships to discover solutions for the region’s biggest health challenges: cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity and mental health. In line with the vision to position the UAE at the forefront of medical innovation, the Foundation has established the first independent multi-disciplinary biomedical research institute with an investment of AED 200 million solely funded by philanthropic partners.
Her Excellency Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg, Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Member of the Board of Trustees of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “This pandemic has united the world like never before. Now more than ever, scientists around the world continue to search for answers into the causes, prevention and treatment of diseases affecting mankind with the coronavirus taking centre stage. Our investment in medical research reaffirms our commitment to embed research and innovation in the fabric of the nation’s long-term healthcare strategy and to adapt to the changing landscape. Medical research has the potential to save lives and our efforts today will pave the way for a healthier world for future generations.”
As a non-profit organisation Al Jalila Foundation relies on the support of its partners and donations are invested in healthcare programs to transform patients’ lives. In February, Al Jalila Foundation launched ‘Bassmat Rashid Bin Saeed’ to lead the march for pioneering medical research to address the healthcare needs in the UAE. Dedicated to the late Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum the campaign honours his philanthropic spirit and aims to continue his legacy to improve humanity. Bassmat, ‘fingerprint’ in Arabic, signifies the power donors have to leave their distinctive mark on the future of medicine through this unique fundraising campaign with the first-of-its-kind donor recognition wall.
As a non-profit organisation Al Jalila Foundation relies on the support of its partners and donations are invested in healthcare programs to transform lives. For more information on how to be a part of Bassmat Rashid Bin Saeed please visit www.aljalilafoundation.ae/bassmat.
