Times of Oman - July 12, 2015

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RAMADAN PRAYER TIMINGS IFTAR 7.02PM FAJR 4.01AM

SUNDAY, July 12, 2015 / 25 Ramadan 1436 AH

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Oman Down’s Syndrome frequency causes concern 427 to 1 in 546. Yet little research has been done on why this is the case. In Western countries Down’s Syndrome is most prevalent among children born to mothers who are over 35, but this isn’t the case in the GCC, where there are very young mothers who give birth to children with Down’s Syndrome.

Though the global rate of Down’s Syndrome is approximately one in every 800 live births, the rates in the Sultanate are almost double at nearly 1 in 380

SARAH MACDONALD

sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Ruiya Al Habsi and Zaid Al Jabry are best friends. They visit each other’s homes often and like drawing, listening to music, and playing games, often joined by their other brothers and sisters. Ruiya loves the movie Frozen and she loves getting dressed up. Zaid loves dancing. In most ways, they are like any other children in Oman. But life is a little more challenging for these two, as they were both born with Down’s Syndrome. The global rate of Down’s Syndrome is approximately one in every 800 live births, but accord-

RAISING AWARENESS: There are just over 1,400 children with Down’s Syndrome in Oman, including 13-year-old Ruiya and 12-year-old Zaid. - Photo: Sarah MacDonald

ing to the Oman Down Syndrome Association (ODSA) the rates in the Sultanate are much higher: 1 in 380. There are just over 1,400 children with Down’s Syndrome in Oman, including 13-year-old Ruiya and 12-year-old Zaid. Down’s Syndrome (DS) is a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra chromosome, 47 in total instead of 46.

This causes delays in both physical and intellectual development, but given proper early intervention, which both Ruiya and Zaid were lucky enough to have, people with Down’s Syndrome can become independent and be active members of society. “We don’t treat our kids any differently. Zaid doesn’t seem himself as any different, and I don’t think Ruiya does either,” said

Fatma Al Barwani, Zaid’s mother and a member of the newly inaugurated ODSA. She said that throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council(GCC) the rates of Down’s Syndrome are much higher than the international average. For example, estimates for the UAE are 1 in 319 births; in Kuwait estimates range from 1 in 350 to 1 in 581; in Saudia Arabia from 1 in

High rates Some assume that the high rates of Down’s Syndrome in the GCC are because of consanguineous marriages, but Fatma says this hasn’t been proven either. Ruiya’s mother, Zuwaina Al Barwani, said two studies have been done in Oman but their results were inconclusive. “It might be something to do with environment but they didn’t come up with anything exactly conclusive,” Zuwaina said. Zuwaina is also a member of the ODSA, which was launched on March 21 with the aim of providing early intervention and assistance to help children with Down’s Syndrome function as independently as possible in society. She said the local rates of Down’s Syndrome in Oman reveal the need for the association. “As an association we can open up the centre, turn it into a mini school for children with Down’s Syndrome,” explained Fatma, adding that the ODSA would be able to fundraise, hire specialised teachers, and raise more awareness of Down’s Syndrome, too. >A6

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HM sends greetings MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of greetings to President Manuel Pinto da Costa of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe on his country’s Independence Day anniversary. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere greetings and wishes to the president and his country’s people. —ONA TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

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ROP warns motorists going to Jabal Akhdar

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As Eid Al Fitr holidays approach, ROP has called upon motorists heading to Jabal Al Akhdar to stay alert. >A3

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IS bombs consulate of Italy in Egypt, one killed

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The IS militant group said it was behind a deadly car bomb attack on Italy’s consulate in Cairo. >A13

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‘Belgian SMEs have a lot to offer to Oman’

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SMEs in Belgium have a lot to offer to Oman in various sectors. >B1

T H R E AT E N S AC T I O N

Ministry warns against misuse of traditional dress

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OMR14.5 MILLION PLAN

Oman Avenues Mall expansion next year ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

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VIOLATION OF NORMS: The call came after the ‘Masar’, the tradi-

tional turban was seen in the market with a football club logo.

FAHAD AL GHADANI fahad@timesofoman.com Muscat: On its official twitter account, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has asked the public to report anyone misusing the traditional dress of Oman or the local fashion. The call came after the ‘Masar’, the traditional turban was seen in the market with a football club logo. The ministry has warned companies against the use of such sartorial practices, saying that it would confiscate such items and take legal action. Using traditional products such as Omani traditional attire and merchandise, imported or locally produced with a football club logo is a violation of norms, it said. The ministry carried out a number of inspections in the market to monitor the situation. Moreover, a twitter hashtag was created for the public to report any such violations to the ministry. The twitter handle is ‘talk to us’, or ‘khidmat hadithna’, and it was welcomed by the public. Different complaints and reports were made through the hashtag to the ministry for to taking legal action. Harming the traditional dress

might also take on a different connotation as some companies put external elements on these dresses or mix the designs which are specific to each dress. The ministry had earlier asked the companies not to trade in or import such items. Similar incidents had taken place earlier when companies tended to modify traditional dresses like Kumma, Masar, men’s dresses, and women’s ‘Abayah’ during stitching and put certain emblems or signs of some of international clubs on them. The ministry has warned shops or individuals against even marketing or selling such products in the Sultanate. Ali Al Jabri, from the private sector, welcomed the action by the ministry and felt that people committing such mistakes should be punished. “This is our tradition and it is very important to us,” said Al Jabri. He said that in an open market if companies are given freedom the design of traditional dress might vanish and wondered how such items have entered the Sultanate. “I suppose the authority involved in this issue must be strict with companies providing such dresses into the market,” said Al Jabri.

MUSCAT: Construction of the second phase of the Oman Avenues Mall, a division of the LuLu Group International, will start ‘early next year’ to provide an ultimate family entertainment experience for visitors. The second phase will see the construction of a cinema and perhaps some small shops around it with an estimated investment of around OMR14.5 million, Ben Watson, general manager, told the Times of Oman. The second phase will be constructed on top of the LuLu Hypermarket, complementing other components of the mall, he said. Watson said that during the first 30 days of the launch of the new retail-led mixed-use destination, over one million people visited the mall, which was well beyond their expectations. According to him, the mall is currently over 70 per cent open and is expected to be completely open in a few months with the launch of multiple restaurants and a number of renowned international brands. The project is on track and over 100 stores are now open, he said, adding that the mall has made a ‘very strong’ contribution to job creation in Oman. Most of the shops have 100 per cent Omani staff, said Watson. He said that various sections dedicated to different types of brands and categories as well as

‘Boots UK to debut in Oman Avenues Mall soon’ ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

PROJECT ON TRACK: The second phase of Oman Avenues Mall

will be constructed on top of the LuLu Hypermarket. – A R Rajkumar

the entertainment elements are some of the distinctive features of the mall. “Once we are completely open, the amount of family entertainment that we will have will outweigh any other shopping mall in Oman and even parts of the Middle East,” said Watson. He added that the mall currently has one baby feeding room and one more is being built, which will be the best in Oman. Awareness campaign Watson was speaking on the sidelines of an event at the mall on July 9, which featured an awareness campaign on Irlen Syndrome, a perceptual processing disorder, organised by the White Hands Centre for Assistive Technology and Rehabilitation. He said that the mall is keen

to provide further support to the centre to raise awareness about this disorder. Another part of the event featured a group of local Omani students and international students introducing their own culture, traditions and language to visitors. Maris Pihle, president of AIESEC Oman, said that people come to Oman for different social projects such as environmental ones, and added that the event at the mall was aimed at familiarising visitors with different cultures. Meruyert Shagmanova, vice president of marketing and PR at AIESEC Oman, said that such events are essential for increasing understanding and tolerance among people of different cultures and nationalities.

MUSCAT: Boots UK Limited, a leading pharmacy chain in the United Kingdom and Ireland, is expected to open a store in Oman Avenues Mall in the next two months, marking its first presence in the Sultanate. “Boots are already confirmed to open a store at Oman Avenues Mall. You can see their hoarding and signage located on the Ground floor near Mothercare,” Ben Watson, general manager, Oman Avenues Mall, told Times of Oman. “We are excited to bring them to Oman for the first time. They are fitting out now and expected to open in the next one to two months,” Watson said. Oman Avenues Mall is an eclectic ensemble of retail offerings spread across 72,000 sqm. of builtup space.


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