The Genetics Division in King Abdulaziz Medical City – Ministry of National Guard – Health Affaires - Riyadh has organized a Newborn Screening and Metabolic Diseases Awareness Day on the 17th of December 2015 at King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital in Riyadh.
The awareness day included several vital lectures covering genetics, the Newborn Screening Program, the importance of nutrition in metabolic diseases and genetic counseling to screen the newborns.
Moreover, During the event, a number of recreational games and competitions, that targeted both adults and children mimicked all different types of genetic diseases, their diagnosis and how to prevent some of their risks.
On this occasion, Dr. Fouad Al-Mutairi pointed out the importance of holding such activities to directly educate the patients especially about the Newborn Screening Program which was launched based on a Royal Decree issued in 2005 due to the large number of genetic diseases and metabolic cases in our society. Ever since the launch, MNG-HA was so keen to focus the efforts towards reducing the number of cases through awareness and early detection.