UAE-based foreign exchange and worldwide money transfer company Al Ansari Exchange has signed a $10 million worth agreement with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to fund healthcare humanitarian projects in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region under the foundation’s matching program.
This announcement was made during a meeting in Dubai between Mr. Bill Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation, and Mr. Mohamed Ali Al Ansari, chairman of the Al Ansari Exchange.
During the meeting, they discussed the importance of supporting global efforts to improve healthcare and the critical role philanthropists play in funding such programs in various parts of the world.
According to the statement, “The focus of this pledge will be to reduce inequities in health by developing new tools and strategies to reduce the burden of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which affect more than 1.7 billion of the world’s population residing in low-income communities in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.”
Mohamed Ali Al Ansari Chairman Al Ansari Exchange
“We always seek to establish strong long-term partnerships with foundations and institutes as we understand that consistency in strategy and direction is key to seeing a positive impact on communities in need. We are delighted to have the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as one of our global partners in this mission, and we will continue side by side in the efforts to combat poverty, disease, and inequality around the world.”
“It’s excellent to see this partnership come to fruition with Al Ansari Exchange. Together, we are committed to reducing inequities in healthcare. As we push toward the elimination of neglected tropical diseases and the eradication of polio, I’m pleased to renew our nearly decade-long collaboration with Al Ansari Exchange,” said Mr. Gates.
The funding will be directed toward the Reaching the Last Mile Fund, a multi-donor initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and managed by The END Fund. It will also help to fund ongoing global polio eradication efforts, as per the statement.
