Sheikh Hamdan Award in Cairo

It was sponsored by the Sheikh Hamdan Award for Medical Sciences in collaboration with the Middle East Council of African Ophthalmological Medicine along with WHO. The Award has been named in honor of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry.

In his speech, Abdullah bin Souqat, Executive Director of Sheikh Hamdan Award, said: 'I am pleased on behalf of the President and members of the Board of Trustees of the Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Medical Sciences Award, to welcome all of you to this session, which affirms the keenness of the Middle East Council of African Ophthalmology to upgrade medical services in the field of ophthalmology in all aspects. The support and care for this session comes from the goal established by the Sheikh Hamdan Award for Medical Sciences, which supports everything that upgrades medical services at all levels, including the local, regional and global levels.'

He added that the Award was founded in 1999 as a non-profit medical and social venture under the care and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry.

The aim of the Award is to support the scientific and medical areas and honor scientists whose work benefits societies. Abdullah bin Souqat pointed out that the nine years since the establishment of the Award was brimming with achievements. This was evident at each biennial session of the Award, and the numerous events and conferences organized and the support it extended for dozens of research activities in the various fields of medicine.

He explained that during the first session, the focus was on honoring scientists and researchers who presented the latest research, along with a summary of their studies in the area of heart diseases and vascular problems.

The second session was to honor scientists and researchers in the field of Gynecology and Obstetrics, including infertility, while the third session covered the areas of medicine and kidney diseases, their causes and treatment and the fourth session concentrated on the research of diseases and neurological disorders, through scientific committees and arbitrators from all over the world. The selection of themes and the selection of candidates with the most creative talent in those areas around the world was done keeping their high quality in mind, he added.

Abdullah bin Souqat, while addressing the question of the development of leadership of eye doctors, said that these facts of the Award created unprecedented examples in various areas and became a reference point for all States seeking to benefit from this experiment which is considered one of the most important initiatives in this area. This was possible due to the continued support, guidance and insight of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the patron of the Award.

The Executive Director of the Award identified that the subject of stem cell research in the diagnosis and treatment which was debated at the fifth session for the years 2007/2008 was a field and area that would have an unprecedented payoff in all areas of medical science. It will be established at a ceremony in December 2008, when the Award ceremonies will complete the tenth year since their inception.

Abdullah bin Souqat said that the Award resulted in the establishment of the first center for studies at the gene level in the region, namely, the Arab Center for Studies of Genetics. It was set up in the beginning of 2003 to work on the study of all genetic diseases in the Arab world. 'In a short period, it was able to build the first database of genetic diseases in the Arab world,' Abdullah bin Souqat said, pointing out that the formation of the Arab Council for Research on Genes and Genetic Science, included in its membership scientists and doctors specializing in genes and the science of genetics from all Arab countries.

The purpose of the Sheikh Hamdan Award for the conference stemmed from its desire to expand the areas of the prize, and to provide services supporting health at many levels, whether in the United Arab Emirates or in the GCC countries or in Arab States and other countries in the region. This was due to the continued guidance of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

On the sidelines of the conference, Abdullah bin Souqat met with the Saudi Prince Ahmed bin Abdul-Aziz bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Board Chairman of the Middle East Council of African Ophtalmological Medicine. They discussed a number of topics and health roles performed by the Award that was of interest to the general public and various segments of medical workers in the region and the world.

Prince Abdul-Aziz expressed deep thanks for the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan, praised the role played by the great prize in various medical fields, and the continued strong support of projects submitted by researchers and students. He said that the prize was one of the most important medical honors known worldwide, that seeks to reach everyone.

During the conference, Abdullah bin Souqat presented a number of lectures on specific topics. He also participated in the discussion on positive leadership and the skills need to function within a working group.

The conference was highlighted by the presence of a number of officials and others in the field of medicine and health from various countries.