Medlab Middle East partners with Dubai Health Authority for Blood Donation Drive during exhibition

With the World Health Organisation (WHO), revealing over 117 million blood donations are collected globally every year, Medlab Middle East will launch its inaugural Blood Donation Drive, in partnership with Dubai Health Authority (DHA), as part of its responsible commitment to the safe and effective blood collection in the region. 

In the UAE, the Dubai Blood Donation Centre received over 53,000 units in 2019, approximately 50% of the total blood collected throughout the country. Several initiatives take place throughout the year including a year-long partnership between DHA and Dubai Holdings for “Be The Hero campaign” which saw a dedicated mobile blood donation bus reach out to community members at their workplaces, universities and community areas to provide easy and convenient blood donation facilities. 

Dr May Raouf, Director of the Dubai Blood Donation Centre, said: “At the Dubai Blood Donation Centre, we maintain the highest international standards and are committed to providing a safe and adequate supply of blood to all DHA hospitals and private hospitals in Dubai, ensuring we save the lives of those patients who desperately require blood transfusions. 

“Blood only last for 42 days so donors, for all types of blood, are needed to continually replenish and replace our stocks. People are able to donate blood every eight weeks and with every donation, there’s the potential to save three lives.”  

According to Dr Raouf, only 0.6 per cent of the UAE population are AB negative, 1.8 per cent are B negative, 2.4 per cent are A negative, and 4 per cent are O negative. Positive blood types are the most common blood type and are found in 38.6 per cent of the population.

The 19th edition of the Medlab Middle East congress will feature 12 CME accredited multi-disciplinary conferences, including, a dedicated conference on Blood Transfusion Medicine. 

The conference, which is supported by the International Society of Blood Transfusion and the Saudi Society of Transfusion Medicine, will feature several renowned international blood specialists presenting guidelines and regulatory updates on safe and effective collection, preparation and transfusion of blood products tailored for lab and transfusion specialists.

The conference, chaired by Dr May Raouf ,Head of blood donation center ,Dubai Health Authority and co-chaired by Dr Naema Omeziane, Medical Director, Abu Dhabi Blood Bank, SEHA, will examine critical topics including technological breakthroughs, global and regional challenges of recruitment and retention of blood donors, transfusion transmitted infections and screening of donors, amongst others.

Tom Coleman, Group Exhibition Director, Informa Markets Healthcare, said: “Medlab Middle East continues to underscore the importance of playing an active role furthering the health and wellbeing of the citizens, through initiatives such as the blood donation drive, while also ensuring that professionals in the laboratory sector have the latest data, information and learnings from leaders in the field through our various conferences.

“This year, we will show a range of technological advances crucial to the development of laboratory medicine in the region, most notably in blood transfusion - an area which has the potential to save lives and improve health.”

In line with the show’s aim of transforming tomorrow’s diagnostics, and focusing on innovation, Medlab Middle East 2020 will also feature the inaugural Transformation Hub, a dedicated zone showcasing advanced clinical laboratory products by SMEs and new-to-market pioneers transforming diagnostics and advancing healthcare. 

Organised by Informa Markets, an estimated 600+ exhibitors from more than 35+ countries and 25,800+ professional visits are expected to attend the 2020 edition of the show, which runs from 3-6 February at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The mobile blood donation clinic will be situated adjacent to the Za’abeel Hall 6 entrance and will be accepting donations throughout Medlab Middle East. For further information, please visit www.medlabme.com