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UNDER THE KIND PATRONGE OF HER
HIGHNESS SHEIKHA MOZAH BINT NASSER AL-MESNAD
FIRST QATAR
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
ON NEWBORN SCREENING
&
Orphan Europe Middle East TRAINING COURSE
"A Healthy Beginning For Newborn Babies in
Qatar"
HMC is proud to announce the First Qatar International Conference on Newborn Screening November 2-5, 2007 under the kind patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Mesnad, the Consort of His Highness the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani. This is preceded by Orphan Europe
Middle East Training Course November 1-2, 2007. In addition to the local speakers, the conference is hosting 24 international speakers, photos, names and brief profile is available on this website.
Each year a number of babies are born with disorders that can lead to severe physical disabilities, developmental delay and other health problems or even death. Early detection of affected babies before the manifestation of the first sign or symptom will ensure early interventional management with a likely excellent outcome. Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) universal newborn screening program offers all babies born in Qatar
"A healthy beginning in their new lives." We hope that many colleagues will be able to benefit and contribute to this conference that will help to optimize the neonatal screening in the whole world for the benefit of our future children and their families.
The metabolic and endocrine universal newborn screening program at HMC commenced in December 2003 and offers screening for 32 disorders at international standards and world class excellence. We achieved that through partnership with Heidelberg University, Germany. We trained and certified all staff involved in the screening process to a highly competent professional standard. We also developed highly-skilled technical staff and installed state-of-the-art laboratory equipment. The screening team handover the identified babies to a highly competent, specialized Pediatric team for management. The conference will provide the opportunity to share with you the outstanding successful Qatar experience in this field.
The National Screening Program for early detection of hearing loss started in April 2003. This program is another HMC successful achievement that detected many hearing handicaps and enabled early intervention namely the fitting of hearing aids and cochlear implantation, all performed in Qatar. The conference will provide workshops and procedure protocols to enhance knowledge and experience.
The
mission towards elimination of childhood blindness commenced in January 2006 by adapting the Qatar Newborn Screening for Ocular Pathology Program. This is a 5-year national plan for eye care under the global initiative of vision 20/20. Universal detailed ophthalmic examination is carried at newborn, 6 weeks, 6 months, 3 years, 5-6 years then on alternative years until the age of 12. The retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening program commenced in September 1997. The timely detection and application of laser treatment has saved many affected eyes from blindness.
It is our great pleasure to invite you to participate in this international event and to get to know the experience of Qatar Universal Screening Program and enjoy not only the state-of-the-art academic activities but also the generous hospitality Qatar can offer.
Dr. Hilal Al Rifai, FRCPCH, FRCPI,DCH
Chief of Medical Staff, Women's Hospital
Director of Neonatal & Perinatal Medicine
Director of Qatar Newborn Screening Program
Chairman of the Conference
Doha, Qatar
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