Dubai-Nov 2017: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences is organizing the Rare disease day competition for public and private schools in the UAE for the third year in a row.  The objectives of the competition are to raise students' awareness and promote their positive attitudes towards health challenges, particularly towards "Rare Diseases", to promote the principles of research and exploration and to develop the talents of students and encourage them to innovate and participate in competitions.

 

The competition includes a variety of categories which target different talents of students, such as the Written Work Competition, which encourages students to submit a literary story in the context of either rare disease day in general or about the suffering of a patient in particular. Other categories include Art and painting competitions, handcrafts around Rare Diseases, as well as Theatrical, Musical, and Radio Works, all around the theme of rare diseases. Entries must be sent no later than 15 January 2018 according to the Terms of the competition on the website : http://rdduae.ae/.

 

In this context, His Excellency Abdullah Bin Souqat, the Executive Director of the Award, expressed the interest of the award by highlighting the issue of rare diseases in the United Arab Emirates, which is one of the most interested countries to preserve the rights of special needs. He also stressed that the main objective of the competition is to educate all groups of society on rare diseases and how to prevent them as well as the best way to detect them early.

 

He added that the award is always keen to support these activities and scientific and practical programs, based on the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance, Sponsor of the Award, in order to increase awareness and knowledge of diseases among members of society in the United Arab Emirates and the Arab region.

 

It is worth mentioning that the competition will be organized by the Organizing Committee for the Day of Rare Diseases 2018. Names of winners from each category will be announced later through the website of rare diseases.