Did You Know: Rare Disease Week happens in February

National Rare Disease Week is observed every fourth week of February by virtue of Proclamation No. 1989 signed on Feb. 8, 2010.

Rare disorders are defined as uncommon diseases affecting no more than one in every 20,000 individuals in the country, and recognized by the Department of Health (DOH) upon the recommendation of the National Institute of Health (NIH).

The DOH and Institute of Human Genetics under UP-NIH are the lead national focus agencies for commemorating the event.—Marielle Medina, Inquirer Research