Dubai, February 27, 2016: In conjunction with the Rare Disease Day on February 29th, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences concluded its Awareness Campaign on Rare Diseases with a celebration held yesterday at the Children's City in Greek Park, Dubai.
Abdullah bin Souqat, a member of the Board of Trustees and the Executive Director of Hamdan Medical Award, said: The celebration culminates the success of the awareness campaign for young Emiratis towards Rare Diseases, and represents the Award’s support for patients with Rare Diseases and their families.
“A significant interaction with the campaign has been witnessed during the previous week, whether within the awareness lectures presented in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, or within the competition held for schools’ students all over the emirates.
Dr. Fatima Bastaki, Consultant Pediatrician and Clinical Geneticist, Latifa Hospital, and the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the awareness campaign, spoke about the closing ceremony of the campaign which included entertainment activities for children, such as games, face painting, workshops, and competitions, besides the shows presented on the stage of the Children's city.
“The ceremony started with a short poetic play entitled "Health is crown”, authored by Ahmad al Shezawi, composed by Mohammad Al Naqbi, and presented by Nour Group. The play was followed by the shows presented by the students from Al Rowaida Elementary School, Sharjah, Al Ebdaa school, Dubai, and Al Nokhba Model School, Dubai, which is entitled "My fate is to live or not to live!”, she said.
Dr. Fatima Bastaki spoke about the distinctive performance by Mira Ali Al-Qassab, 16, entitled "Mira’s Diary, Love and Hope", in which she spoke about her experience with Rare Diseases.
The celebration included many activities such as the bikes’ march which toured Dubai carrying the logo of the Rare Disease Day, launched from the Bikers’ Cafe reaching to the Creek Park, and then went back to the starting point. Also, a show for horses’ parade was there, along al Riyad Street, with the participation of the female jockeys of the Aayan Equestrian Club, Dubai.
During the ceremony, Mr. Abdullah Bin Souqat honored the winners of the Schools’ student competition, for middle and high schools, included Talal Ziad, grade 7, National School, Ajman, Fatima Nasser Al Muhairi, grade 9, Al Ebdaa Model School, Dubai, Khadija Ahmed Abdullah al Sweidi, grade 9, Fujairah Girls Center, Rama Yahya Fares, grade 10, Al Hekma Private School, Ajman, Qumasha Khaled Mohammed al Ali, grade 11, Umm al Momineen Secondary School, Fujairah, Bashaier Yousuf al Khayat, grade 10, al Dhait Secondary School, Ras Al Khaimah, in addition to Fatimah Abdullah Sulaiman AL Zahori, Moza Ali Ahmed Abed, and Fatima Matar Al khushary from Salma bint Qais Model School for elementary and secondary education, Sharjah.
Also, all the participants in the ceremony were honored namely; Dubai Police, Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Foundation for Ambulance Services, Dubai Sports Council, Emirates Motor Sports federation, Aayan Equestrian Club, Dubai, Children's City, Creek Park, Al Rowaida Elementary School, Sharjah, AL Nokhba Model School, Dubai, AL Ebdaa Model School, Dubai, Mr. Ahmad al Shezawi, Mira Ali Al-Qassab, Sanofi Genzyme and Orphan Europe.
Finally, the attendees participated in a march in the park carrying the logo of the Rare Disease Day.
