aswaaq joins hands with UAE GDA to launch Thalassaemia Screening Campaign
January 5th 2009:
Dubai
In line with its social responsibility and as part of its various initiatives to support the UAE community, aswaaq launches‘Thalassaemia Screening Campaign” from 4th to 8th January 2009.
The campaign, organized in cooperation with UAE Genetic Diseases Association (UAE GDA), will cover all aswaaq staff working in the head office and in Nad Al Hamar community centre, in addition to the centre's visitors from Nad Al Hamar and the neighbouring areas. The screening will be provided for all from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM through the current week.
While doing the Thalassaemia screening, Mr. Yousef Sharaf, aswaaq's Deputy CEO, commented: "As part of its social responsibility, aswaaq is keen to offer all kinds of support to the UAE community. From this perspective comes the collaboration with the UAE Genetic Diseases Association which has launched its first project "Emirates Free of Thalassemia by the year 2012" with the aim of identifying the Beta-Thalassaemia and Sickle-cell carriers in the UAE pre-marital population in order to make the country free from the new births of children with Thalassaemia by the year 2012."
He reiterated that all aswaaq staff in the head office and Nad Al Hamar centre is participating in this screening campaign which witnesses a huge interest by shoppers and residents of Nad Al Hamar and the neighbouring areas.
"Blood samples are collected and tested for Thalassemia trait at the UAE GDA's specialized state-of-the-art laboratory in a very simple, safe and confidential way." Mr. Sharaf added.
Dr. Maryam Matar, Executive Director of the UAE GDA, asserted that the Association launches educative programmes and screening campaigns for early detection of inherited diseases and treating them with the aim of reducing genetic disorders in the UAE and maintaining a very healthy society.
“The UAE government saves no efforts to raise awareness among the entire population, both Emiratis and Expatriates, in regard with the impacts of genetic diseases. This is why the UAE GDA has provided clinics with high-tech equipment and professional specialists to help detect the inherited disorders and offer the appropriate treatment." Dr Matar said.
"The UAE GDA," Dr. Matar noted, "has also mobile units to collect blood samples and carry out the tests. We cooperate with other corporate groups to achieve our goals towards a safe and healthy society."
Dr Matar called upon those who are interested in doing the screening to visit the website: http://www.uaegda.ae/newclient.html to register for it.
For her part, Hind Al Falasi, aswaaq's Public Relation Manger, commented: "aswaaq's strategy is based on consolidating the social responsibility which focuses on everything that may serve the UAE society in all fields. In this context, aswaaq is always keen to take every opportunity, and this is why it decided to join hands with the UAE GDA to help the UAE nationals and residents by offering thalassemia screening for aswaaq staff and visitors of Nad Al Hamar community centre."
"Aswaaq," Al Falasi pointed out, " always shows huge interest in maintaining a healthy society, whether by participating in the campaigns that are launched by medical associations and health institution in the UAE, or by offering high quality food stuff according to the best international food safety standards."
It is worth mentioning that thalassemia is one of the most known diseases in the world. It is a type of the genetic anemia dubbed the "Mediterranean Anemia" or "Cooley's Anemia".
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