RARE DISEASE DAY

The theme of Rare Disease Day 2023 is “Share Your Colours”.

Rare Disease Day is an annual observance on the last day of February to raise awareness about rare diseases and their impact on patients' lives.

A rare disease is a disease that affects a small percentage of the population. In some parts of the world, an orphan disease is a rare disease for which there isn't a market big enough to get funding and support for finding treatments unless the government offers financially advantageous conditions for developing and marketing such treatments.

The day was created in 2008 by the European Organisation for Rare Diseases to increase public awareness of illnesses that go undiagnosed or untreated. the European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS) organized the first Rare Disease Day, which took place on February 29, 2008, in a number of European countries as well as in Canada through the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders. The date was selected because February 29 is a "rare day".

Here are some examples of rare diseases- Cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Niemann-Pick disease, and Progeria.

Rare Disease Day serves as an opportunity to improve policymakers' awareness and understanding of rare diseases within the medical community, the public, and the general public. Additionally, it provides a forum for patients and their families to talk about their experiences and stories while highlighting the difficulties they face in obtaining the appropriate diagnosis, care, and treatment.