United Arab Emirates, Dubai - Thursday, March 2, 2017: Today, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences (HMA) has concluded its awareness campaign on rare diseases. Under the slogan "With Research, Possibilities are Limitless", the awareness campaign was organized throughout this week in the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah.

 

On this occasion, Mirza Al Sayegh, a member of the Board of Trustees of HMA, expressed his pleasure for the success that achieved by the campaign in all of its stages. “The campaign has been launched last Saturday from the Greek Park, Dubai, where a round-table discussion was organized for patients and specialists from the concerned bodies. Also, the campaign has witnessed a number of educational lectures presented for students from 13 secondary schools affiliated to the UAE Ministry of Education. Finally, and over the last three days, the campaign has managed to contact with more than 900 shoppers at the Mirdif City Centre shopping mall”, he said.

 

“The direct communication with individuals from all segments of the society have contributed effectively in bridging the knowledge gap they had about these diseases. Now, they know how important their role is in facing these diseases through the early detection and receiving the appropriate treatment”, he said.

 

“Such a success is a momentum for strengthening the award’s communication channels, on this issue, with all members of society throughout the year”, he added.

 

For her part, Dr. Fatima Bastaki, Consultant Pediatrician and Clinical Geneticist, Latifa Hospital, and the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the campaign, spoke about the third and last stage of the campaign which was held at the Mirdif City Centre Shopping Mall.

 

“The positive interaction of the shoppers with the campaign at Mirdif City Center, whether individuals or families, is an evidence of the increased awareness among society members about their important role in facing these diseases”, she said.

 

“During the campaign, information about rare diseases were explained such as its causes, preventive ways, and symptoms, besides the actions that should be taken after discovering a problem with a family member, especially with the newborns”.

 

Participated in the awareness campaign, at Mirdif City Centre, are pediatricians from Latifa Hospital for Women and Children including Dr. Ethar Mustafa Ibrahim Malik, Dr. Abdalla Bellosh, Dr. Mohamed Farah, and Dr. Fatima Abdul Aziz.