Al Jalila Foundation gets AED5mn donation for diabetes treatment

Gulf Time: The Landmark Group, the region’s leading retail and hospitality conglomerate, announced that it will support Al Jalila Foundation’s A’awen treatment programme with a total contribution of AED5 million over the next five years as part of its flagship social initiative Beat Diabetes.

Al Jalila Foundation is a UAE-based not-for-profit organisation established by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Its A’awen (‘support’ in Arabic) programme provides financial assistance to UAE citizens and residents who suffer from life-threatening illnesses and are unable to afford quality healthcare, helping alleviate a significant portion of the financial burden borne by patients.

The funds raised by the Landmark Group will go to people with diabetes who are eligible for financial support following a review by Al Jalila Foundation A’awen committee, comprising subject matter experts and physicians. The Foundation helps address patients’ needs by working with its healthcare partners on treatment plans and will provide a report on the progress of the fundraising initiative and its positive impact.

In 2021, the Landmark Group hosted the 12th edition of its Beat Diabetes Walk, a dedicated day-long event that brought together more than 10,000 participants to educate the public about the condition. In addition, the conglomerate is raising funds across its extensive network of brand outlets in the UAE for Al Jalila Foundation’s diabetes research and treatment programmes. Going one step further for the cause, the Group matches the donations raised in stores dirham-for-dirham, doubling the amount collected, and will continue to do so in the future.

Renuka Jagtiani, Chairwoman and CEO of the Landmark Group, said: “We have been committed in the fight against diabetes for more than a decade in the UAE, with a long-standing vision to create awareness related to this crippling, but preventable disease. Diabetes is a major cause of some of the world’s most debilitating health conditions –– yet financial hardships suffered by many patients has created a barrier to life-changing treatment for many.

“Our five-year pledge to the Al Jalila Foundation’s A’awen treatment programme aims to provide a vital step towards ensuring helping those who need life-saving medical care can access it easier.”

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “Through our partnership with the Landmark Group, we have been able to make meaningful progress  in diabetes research to improve patient treatment. Diabetes affects at least 285 million people globally, and the number is expected to increase by 2030. This calls for urgent action and collaboration. Investing in research will help us uncover relevant and innovative solutions to one of today’s most pressing healthcare challenges and we thank the Landmark Group for its unwavering support and contribution to diabetes research, prevention and treatment.”

Since 2014, the Landmark Group’s Beat Diabetes initiative has raised and pledged more than AED13 million towards diabetes research and treatment. In recognition of its dedication to tackling diabetes, the conglomerate is the first and only corporation from the GCC region included on the members list of the Global Diabetes Compact Forum. Founded by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Forum aims to create a world where the risk of diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2) is reduced, and where people who are diagnosed with the condition have access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable and quality treatment and care.