Asaad opens three-day workshop
MUSCAT -- His Highness Sayyid Asaad bin Tareq al Said, Representative of His Majesty the Sultan, presided over the inaugural ceremony of the "1st National Workshop for Prevention of Birth Defects and Genetic Disorders in Oman" here yesterday. The three-day event (January 14-16) is being organised by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). In his welcome address, Dr Ahmed al Ghassani, Under-Secretary of Health Affairs, Ministry of Health, said the workshop aims to develop a national strategy to enhance hereditary medical services in the Sultanate by incorporating services of protection against birth-deformities in health services, enhance prompt medical intervention and to raise awareness level about birth-related disorders.
The overall objective of the workshop is to consider and agree on recommendations to strengthen surveillance and monitoring of birth defects and genetic disorders in Oman based on the five-year plan. Dr Al Ghassani said the workshop assumes special significance because genetic disorders and birth-related deformities are on the rise in the world. Around six per cent of the babies in the world are born with birth defects. Each year, 8 million children are born with birth defects, around 3.3 million of them die, while the remaining children are disabled for life.
Each year, 8 million children are born with birth defects, around 3.3 million of them die, while the remaining children are disabled for life. Prof Bazdawi al Riyami, Dean, College of Medicine, SQU, said many countries have noticed an alarming incidence of birth defects in babies on account of marriages within close family circles. Sultan Qaboos University set up a small unit at its College of Medicine and Health Sciences in 2001 to work on this issue and the unit has now developed into a full-fledged department of genetic disorders and birth defects. Available evidence suggests that congenital and genetic disorders are responsible for a major proportion of infant mortality, morbidity and handicap in many countries.
This problem is more common among countries whose population is characterised by large family size and a high level of inbreeding with consanguinity rates in the range of 25-60. The workshop will present the magnitude of the problem and the currently available genetic services in Oman and other regional countries, together with recommendations for developing strategies for prevention. In view of the good coverage of primary healthcare systems in Oman and most Arab countries, community genetic services that include screening programmes could be strengthened by the efficient training of primary healthcare personnel, said experts.
They said genetic and congenital disorders are more common in some countries on account of several factors such as malnutrition of mothers and high consanguinity rates. The workshop, being conducted under the auspices of World Alliance of Organisations (WAO), brings together key research professionals, health experts and policymakers who are committed to the formation of a network of support services for birth defects and genetic conditions. According to the Ministry of Health, Oman has a high prevalence of congenital malformation syndromes, haemoglobinopathies, inborn errors of metabolism and other kinds of autosomal-recessive disorders.
The rate of children born with Down's syndrome exceeds that of other countries. Strategies are needed for the care and prevention of birth defects and genetic disorders that include integration of community genetics into primary healthcare system, education and strengthening the existing specialised genetic services. The workshop aims to increase awareness of the human toll of birth defects and possibilities for their care and prevention.
Oman has recorded a significant decrease in the mortality and morbidity rates of infants and children under 5 years. However, higher rates of fatal and neonatal deaths in comparison to other countries as well as the pattern of morbidity in childhood are due to high prevalence of genetic diseases and congenital malformations. A national registry system was developed and implemented for monitoring and evaluation of congenital and hereditary diseases in 1998 at a department of MoH.
The national incidence of stillbirths and of congenital anomalies is recorded as 0.9 per cent and 16.9 per cent respectively. The figures are astoundingly high when the incidence of congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities are considered together (73/1000 births). The estimated incidence of children born with congenital and genetic disorders is 7 per cent as compared to 4.4 per cent in Europe.
The difference is suggested to be due to high prevalence of inherited red cell disorders, advanced maternal age and consanguineous marriages in Oman. In the past, the majority of severe congenital malformations and genetic disorders caused early deaths. To cap it all, Oman is responding to the rising needs for genetic services by establishing a National Genetic Centre and by the goals defined in its new five-year plan.
By Hasan Kamoonpuri
© Oman Daily Observer 2007
