The Deputy Minister of Health for Laboratories and Blood Banks, who serves also as the Advisor to the Arabian Commission for Blood Transfusion Services, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, said that “the Kingdom boasts its outstanding health system,” and that the Ministry “targets improving and developing blood transfusion services, to provide an example to be followed.”
During the meeting of the Arabian Commission for Blood Transfusion Services, in its 14th session, held recently at the Headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, al-Omar said, “The objectives of the meeting include working for the advancement of the blood transfusion sector in the Arab World for providing secure blood products, boosting and intensifying cooperation between blood bank centers in the Arab World, in addition to taking advantage of the Arab expertise in the field of blood transfusion by linking communication channels with the world organization and institutions specialized in the field of blood transfusion."
Within the same vein, Dr. Al-Omar pointed out that "the recommendations underscored the participation of the Arab states in the project of the blood plasma products adopted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the project is going to provide the Arab States with the requirements necessary for their blood transfusion centers within three months from the date of the meeting as a prelude for qualifying them. The Arab States, for their part, shall respond, showing their existing statistics and information about blood transfusion centers within two months from receiving the form prepared by the project administration for this purpose." He added that the meeting also discussed the amendment of the statute of the Arabian Commission for Blood Transfusion Services.
One of the issues raised in the meeting, according to Dr. Al-Omar, is how to adopt the best measures and work methods to soundly select the donor, in addition to enhancing the free voluntary donation and blood safety tests, making sure of providing secure blood, that is to be added to the optimal use of blood components and blood filtration, removing white blood cells, along with the continuing medical education, applying of total quality system, standardization of the procedures related to blood transfusion, and organizing an Arab day for voluntary blood donation. He went on saying that the meeting suggested to mark that day on the 12th of March, which commemorates founding the Arabian Commission of Blood Transfusion Services.
Noteworthy, the meeting witnessed honoring Mr. Abdullah bin Zamil Al-Darees, the Advisor to the Arabian Commission of Blood Transfusion Services, the former member of the Consultative Council (Majlis ash-Shoura), and Dr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, the Deputy Minister of Health for Laboratories and Blood Banks, who serves also as the Advisor to the Arabian Commission for Blood Transfusion Services.
This honoring comes in recognition of their tireless efforts in supporting the programs meant to develop blood transfusion services in the Arab world through the Arabian Commission for Blood Transfusion Services, as well as their contributions to developing blood transfusion services in the Arab World. It should be noted that Al-Darees and Al-Omar had received the Arabs Award from the League of Arab States (LAS) in former years.
It's worth noting here that the Arabian Commission for Blood Transfusion Services was established as per the decision of the Council of Arab Health Ministers in March 1979. It consists of 22 members of the Arab States, and holds its meeting once a year in the country who heads the Commission. In addition, the council may organize an emergency meeting at the request of at least half of the commission member states, or as per the decision of the chairman of the commission after clarifying the reasons and defining the meeting agenda.