JEDDAH, 13 June — A recent study carried out in the Eastern and Southern provinces of the Kingdom has found that from 20 to 30 percent of newborns in the country have genetic disorders transmitted from parents. This was announced by Dr. Hassan Al-Zahrani, chairman of the organizing committee, at the opening of a symposium on “Medical checkups before marriage” in Jeddah on Monday night. The three-day conference opened by Jeddah Governor Prince Mishal ibn Majed at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital here consists of four sessions. Topics for discussions include: “The concept of medical checkup before marriage”, “Religious and moral constraints and medical checkups”, “Venereal diseases and marriage” and “Social and psychological impacts of medical checkups before marriage”. Organizers said members of the public may attend all the sessions. There will be a separate session for women. Dr. Al-Zahrani said the symposium was aimed at studying the common consequences of marriages between people with genetic problems. “We also hope that the recommendations of the conference will encourage young men and women to go through a medical checkup before entering into marriage,” said Dr. Zahrani. Speakers from the United States, Canada, Cyprus and the Gulf countries are attending. They will highlight medical and scientific points related to the issue while religious scholars will discuss moral and ethical questions involved. Prince Mishal commended the KFSH for taking the initiative to organize the symposium on such a vital health issue. “It is important not only to the parents but for the entire generation as well,” said Prince Mishal. More information can be obtained by visiting the website www.kfshrc.edu.sa/premaritalscreen.sym.
