Muscat – As part of its continued efforts to promote public health awareness, Ministry of Health (MoH) has launched a campaign called ‘Start Right’ aimed at encouraging healthy behaviours from an early age, with particular focus on premarital medical screening.

In a statement, the ministry emphasised that early screening prior to marriage is a crucial step towards building a healthy and well-informed family. ‘Your conscious planning for your family starts with your commitment to premarital screening,’ the ministry stated. ‘Marriage is not merely a union, but a life decision to build a family free from genetic blood disorders and infectious diseases – a move that safeguards future generations and improves quality of life.’

The campaign aligns with MoH’s broader strategy to prevent disease and enhance public health through community awareness and early intervention.

Earlier this year, MoH rolled out a year-long national campaign to promote premarital screening in response to rising cases of hereditary blood disorders such as sickle cell anaemia and beta-thalassemia.

As part of this national drive, premarital screening will become mandatory starting 2026, reinforcing the government’s commitment to proactive healthcare and preventive medicine.

Introduced in 1999, Oman’s premarital screening programme remains one of the country’s most significant preventive health initiatives, helping reduce the incidence of inherited conditions and fostering healthier families.