Generous donors have offered more than 27,000 blood units in Dubai to help patients in need of a transfusion in the first six months of 2018.
More than a third of those donations will be used by Dubai Health Authority to treat patients with genetic blood conditions.
The Dubai Blood Donation Centre in Healthcare City collected 27,401 blood units in the first six months of 2018, with 38 per cent supplied to the Thalassemia Centre, where patients with blood disorders are treated.
Thalassemia is an inherited genetic condition relatively common condition in the region that depletes red blood cells, causing anaemia.
“The centre is committed to providing a safe and adequate supply of blood to save the lives of patients who require transfusions,” said Dr Mai Raouf, director of the Dubai Blood Donation Centre.
“To ensure a sufficient supply, the centre strives to use the latest technologies and the best practices to enhance the safety of blood transfusion.”
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In the first half of the year, 16 per cent of the donated blood was used by Dubai Hospital, 14 per cent at Rashid Hospital, eight per cent was supplied to Latifa Hospital and three per cent to Hatta Hospital.
The remaining 21 per cent of blood supplied was given to the private sector.
Donors also supplied 2,657 platelets during the same six-month period, crucial to helping the blood to clot.
The centre is the emirate’s only clinic offering a blood donor service, and provides around 50 per cent of the total blood collected throughout the country.
In 2017, the centre received 64,666 donors, collecting 50,601 blood units and 5,828 platelets.
It has had an international accreditation from the American Association of Blood Banks since 2012, and recently developed a mobile app to help encourage more donors to come forward to help.
The DAMMI — meaning ‘my blood’ — app makes it easier for people to find where and when they can make a blood donation, and who is eligible.
People can register their details to be contacted during emergencies and disasters to donate blood when it is most needed.
“The app will help avoid human errors and will add an extra layer to transfusion safety,” said Dr Raouf.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group H
Juventus v Valencia, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
