Contest on World Rare Diseases Day

On the occasion of World Rare Diseases Day (marked globally on the last day of February), the Rare Diseases Foundation of Iran (RADOIR) is holding an essay writing contest for students across all schools in Tehran Province. The contest is an attempt to familiarize students of all ages with rare diseases and raise awareness among families, Mehr News Agency reported. It will be held at three levels: elementary, middle school, and high school. The top three winners in each level will receive prizes from the RADOIR. The international day aims to raise awareness for rare diseases and improve access to treatment and medical representation for individuals with rare diseases and their families. A rare disease is any disease that affects a small percentage of the population (1-5 in every 10,000 people). There are approximately 7,000 different types of rare diseases.