ABU DHABI // Every four weeks since he was six months old, Alaa Hatim Kuhail has, without fail, received a life-saving blood transfusion.
The 28-year-old Jordanian expatriate was born with thalassemia, a blood disorder that affects haemoglobin and the red blood cell count and his survival depends on regular transfusions.
The week before his monthly transfusion, Mr Kuhail said he often feels exhausted.
But after the seven-hour procedure, in which between three and four units of blood are transfused into his body, Mr Kuhail said he feels like a different person.
"I feel more energetic and more alive," he said.
Treatment for his condition would not be possible without regular blood donations from members of the public and Mr Kuhail wants to spread the word about the importance of giving blood.
"People should not take healthy blood for granted," he said. "If you have good, healthy blood it is important to help those who don't."
Saeed Jaafar Al Awadhi, a member of the board of directors for the Thalassemia International Federation, also suffers from the condition and requires 17 blood transfusions a year.
"Blood transfusions are the life-line for any thalassemic patient," said the 35-year-old, who had the condition diagnosed when he was just nine months old.
"I can make do without medications, but blood is essential for survival. Thalassemia is a chronic disease and there is no other solution but to undergo regular transfusions.
"Blood is precious - every drop helps save someone in need."
Um Saif, 24, had mild thalassemia diagnosed at the age of 18.
The mother of two, who often suffers fatigue because of the condition, said there should be more blood-transfusion centres in the UAE.
"Too often, people from other emirates are forced to go to Dubai just for blood transfusion," she said. "A blood-transfusion centre in every emirate would make residents' lives easier."
The World Health Organisation said there are about 92 million blood donations each year.
"The transfusion of blood and blood products helps to save millions of lives every year," said Dr Ala Alwan, regional director for the WHO in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
"It can help to improve life expectancy and the quality of life for patients suffering from life-threatening conditions. For example, blood may be needed to support a mother and her child during a complex birth, or to support a patient during surgery."
In many countries, she said, demand outstrips supply and blood services face the challenge of making blood available for all, while also ensuring its quality and safety.
"Blood donation saves lives and fulfils lives," Dr Alwan said. "In a blood bag there is more than just blood - there is life and generosity."
jbell@thenational.ae
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
THREE
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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
What is type-1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a genetic and unavoidable condition, rather than the lifestyle-related type 2 diabetes.
It occurs mostly in people under 40 and a result of the pancreas failing to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugars.
Too much or too little blood sugar can result in an attack where sufferers lose consciousness in serious cases.
Being overweight or obese increases the chances of developing the more common type 2 diabetes.