April 16, 2024:
The Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DoH), the UAE’s healthcare sector regulator, has partnered with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Center (ADPHC) to support more than 353 Abu Dhabi residents, reflecting the UAE’s drive to create a healthier future for all. Ambition.
Recent data highlights the positive impact of screening, with 353 registered couples, an impressive 85% achieved genetic compatibility and only 15% required additional family planning based on genetic results intervention. The screening program translates the efforts of the Ministry of Health and ADPHC into efforts to enhance couples’ healthcare journey early on at different stages including diagnosis, genetic counseling and introduction of reproductive medicine solutions.
In 2022, the Department of Health and ADPHC will include optional genetic screening in the premarital screening program as part of proactive preventive measures to safeguard the health and well-being of community members. By detecting and preventing genetic diseases, genetic screening helps stop the spread of certain genetic diseases and ultimately creates a healthier Abu Dhabi community. More than 22 medical facilities in Abu Dhabi offer comprehensive genetic screening tests for 570 somatically recessive genes that cause more than 840 hereditary diseases.
Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Center for Research and Innovation at the Department of Health (DoH) in Abu Dhabi, said: “Recognizing the importance of genomics in making informed decisions, Abu Dhabi’s proactive approach puts it at the forefront of leading healthcare systems. Frontier world. Abu Dhabi’s inclusion of genetic testing in premarital screening transcends the global trend of pushing genomics into mainstream healthcare, paving the way for more precise and effective medicine. The Department of Health, Abu Dhabi (DoH) remains committed to providing community members with data and insights to help them make informed decisions to manage their health and address potential risks as early as possible.
Dr. Omniyat Al Hajeri, Executive Director of Community Health Sector at Abu Dhabi Public Health Center (ADPHC), said: “This initiative highlights ADPHC’s commitment to establish preventive genetic screening methods and support transparency in collaboration with its strategic stakeholders. The introduction of genetic testing to identify high-risk couples will facilitate discussion of auxiliary intervention options and follow up on referrals to IVF centers as needed in the future. Our goal through this initiative is to proactively prevent certain genetic diseases from being passed on to the next generation, while providing the support needed to enhance an individual’s ability to make future decisions.
The department continues to leverage the UAE’s advanced medical infrastructure and innovation ecosystem to leverage DNA sequencing technology to predict an individual’s medical status and encourage the translation of advanced genetic data provided through the Emirates Genome Project into clinical practice. While genetic compatibility plays an important role in ensuring the long-term health and well-being of future generations, the Ministry of Health encourages couples to undergo premarital genetic screening and incorporate it into their marriage plans to support them in early detection, risk reduction and family planning.
#News #Department #Health #Abu #Dhabi
Image Source : www.doh.gov.ae