Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Maryam, a young girl from Yemen, lost her hearing at three months old after a severe fever. She needed a cochlear implant, and through the Nahr Al Hayat Fund, she was able to hear her parents' voices for the first time.
It was a moment that "truly reflects the humanitarian mission of the Emirates Red Crescent and the UAE", said Soher Abid, Director of the Nahr Al Hayat Fund at the ERC.
Launched in 2023, the fund is one of the flagship child welfare initiatives of the ERC, a spark of hope that brings medical care to children in need, wherever they may be.
In Maryam's case, the implant was followed by months of hearing and speech rehabilitation. And through these sessions, her communication skills blossomed.
"Stories like Maryam's inspire us every day to continue delivering life-changing care with professionalism and compassion," Abid said.
Children born with heart conditions who are unable to undergo surgery are another priority for the fund.
"Open-heart surgery saves lives, transforms the future of children and their families, and relieves the heavy financial burden associated with these complex procedures," Abid said.
To date, the fund has carried out 231 open-heart surgeries for children; 532 surgeries across various medical specialities; and 395 eye surgeries. It has also provided medicines and medical supplies to 375 children of determination, secured 1,095 pairs of spectacles, and delivered treatment to 374 children across diverse specialties.
All of this has been made possible through donations and the wider humanitarian spirit that powers the fund. And the team works to ensure every contribution translates into impact.
"Transparency and accountability are at the heart of the Nahr Al Hayat Fund," Abid said. "Every initiative is carefully planned before launch, and all healthcare partners are assessed against stringent quality standards. Formal agreements ensure the delivery of high-quality medical care while safeguarding patients' rights."
With a new campaign rolled out earlier this year, the fund has expanded its mission to support more children in the UAE, with a focus on proactive care to help young patients lead healthy lives alongside their peers.
"Within the UAE, one of the fund's priorities is the early diagnosis of congenital conditions and childhood diseases, followed by comprehensive post-operative follow-up to ensure lasting recovery," Abid said.
She noted that among the fund's upcoming priorities are liver and bone marrow transplantation programmes for children suffering from liver disease, thalassaemia and other serious blood disorders.
"The fund is also committed to the highest ethical standards by ensuring that both donor and recipient are first-degree relatives," she added.
As part of its mission, the Nahr Al Hayat Fund also partners with hospitals and medical professionals to organise medical camps for orphaned children supported by the ERC.
Abid said such initiatives not only bring healthcare closer to the children who need it most, but also "raise community awareness and reinforce the values of generosity and social solidarity".
For the Nahr Al Hayat Fund, Abid said the goal is to become a trusted destination for financially disadvantaged patients seeking life-saving treatment - and, ultimately, to serve as "the first point of hope".
