Within the framework of Rare Disease Awareness Campaign organized by Hamdan Medical Award and held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Chairman and President of Dubai Health Authority, a series of fruitful meetings held with 1,500 visitors for the stand of the campaign in Mirdif City Centre. These meetings aimed at raising the awareness towards the importance of exerting concerted efforts from all segments of the community to support the children with rare diseases to overcome the difficulties they may face in their daily lives, particularly at school.

 

Abdullah Bin Souqat, Executive Director, Hamdan Medical Award, said that 70 students from Al Rashid Al Saleh School, Dubai, and 60 students from Dubai Women's College participated in the 4-days campaign at Mirdif City Centre. Also, a group of well-known public figures visited the Award’s stand to shed more light on such important event, including Said Ma'amari, the first Emirati who reached the top of the Mount Everest, Mr. Nasser Al Shamsi, General Director, The National Human Resource Development EmploymentAuthority, Prof. Najib Al Khaja, Secretary General of the Award, and Mr. Fouad Sharaf, CEO of the shopping malls, Majid Al Futtaim foundation.

 

Bin Souqat said: "HMA organized an open day for children with rare diseases and their families on Thursday February 28, 2013 (the Rare Disease Day) at the Children's City, Creek Park, Dubai. The aim of that day was to exchange the experiences between the children’s families and the experts including doctors, psychiatrists and nutrition experts. The best ways to overcome the daily difficulties they may face in their daily life, their needs and suggestions were discussed".

 

On Friday, the campaign was concluded at Zayed Bin Mohammed family gathering, Al Khawaneej. A motorcycles march was launched at 6 pm by the Emirates Motor Sports federation and returned back to the starting point where a religious lecture by Sheikh Khalid Ismail was delivered entitled "The Divine Mercy in Rare Diseases". Also Ahmed Khalfan Al Mansouri, Deputy Director of the Family Gathering, and Mohsen Hassan Ali, Director of Media and Marketing department, honored Mr. Abdullah Bin Souqat in recognition of his efforts and  support to the campaign.