Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences (HMA) will organize the awareness week on Rare Diseases from 21 till 26 February, under the slogan "Join us in making the voice of Rare Diseases heard".
The awareness week comes in the framework of the award’s annual celebrations of the Rare Disease Day within the UAE. For the 6th consecutive year, HMA celebrates this world occasion which is at the end of February.
Abdullah bin Souqat, a member of the Award’s Board of Trustees and the Executive Director noted that the awareness week on Rare Diseases aims to raise the awareness towards the ways of prevention and treatment among both healthcare professionals and non-specialists, as these kinds of diseases are considered a heavy burden on individuals, families and societies.
“We are keen to follow up all the preparations for the event. A series of meetings have been held with the supporters and the sponsors including the UAE Ministry of Education, Dubai Police’s General Department of Organizations Protective Security and Emergency, Dubai Road and Transport Authority, Dubai Sports Council, UAE Cycling Federation, the Emirates Motor Sports Federation, Orphan Europe, and Genzyme”, he added.
Dr. Fatima Bastaki, Consultant, Pediatrics and Clinical Genetics, Latifa Hospital, and the head of the organizing committee, spoke about one of the most important activities in the awareness week namely the scientific session on the Rare Diseases which is a part of the 3rd Arab Paediatric Medical Congress. This conference will be held in Dubai from 25th till 27th of February, under the patronage of Hamdan Medical Award, and with the participation of about 500 specialists.
The main objective of this meeting is to promote awareness among pediatricians about the importance of the early detection in children, and the ways to prevent any possible deterioration could affect the functions of their vital organs’”, she added.
“The program of the awareness week on Rare Diseases includes a series of lectures for schools and universities’ students which will be delivered by specialized Emirati clinical geneticists”, Dr. Fatima Bastaki said.
“Also, a competition on Rare Diseases has been already announced for schools’ students in 3 categories namely; Story-Writing, Scientific Paper and Art-Work. The competition aims to stimulate the new generations to read and discover the Rare Diseases, and the ways of addressing them and Prevention.
