KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health’s Blood Transfusion Services launched its annual blood donation campaign on Thursday marking Kuwait’s celebrations, running until February 28, under the patronage of Health Minister Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi. Dr Reem Al-Radhwan, Director of the Blood Transfusion Services Department, stated to KUNA that the campaign aims to promote the spirit of selfless giving, reflecting national unity and social solidarity among all those residing in Kuwait.

She emphasized that donating blood is not only a humanitarian duty but also a national responsibility, underscoring the importance of appreciation for those who contribute. The campaign will feature donation drives across both governmental and private sectors, which play a vital role in ensuring a steady and adequate supply of blood and its derivatives for the healthcare system.

This year’s campaign began at the Amiri Diwan and Kuwait National Petroleum Company, with additional drives scheduled to involve the Indian and Pakistani communities, as well as several embassies. In 2024, the total number of blood bags collected exceeded 95,000, with donation campaigns contributing approximately 22 percent of the overall blood supply.

Field of ophthalmology

In another development, Minister of Health said on Thursday that Kuwait has achieved remarkable progress in the field of ophthalmology and eye surgery, thanks to the sincere efforts of national medical personnel and ongoing fruitful cooperation with specialized international centers. Minister Al-Awadhi stated in a speech at the opening of the 24th Kuwait Ophthalmology Conference, organized by the Ophthalmology Departments Council in cooperation with the Kuwait Ophthalmology Association, that this cooperation has resulted in remarkable achievement that have significantly impacted the development of human resources and enhanced training and continuing education programs.

He added that the Ministry has focused greatly on the specialty of ophthalmology and eye surgery over the past period, which has led to the establishment of new eye departments in Jahra and the Capital Governorates, bringing the total number of departments to six, distributed across all governorates of the country and providing all treatment and surgical services at the highest medical standards.

He stressed the commitment to provide the latest medical devices and advanced treatment technologies and emphasized the importance of developing medical personnel through training and continuing education programs, adding that the conference highlights the significance of this approach and its role in fostering cooperation with regional and international medical institutions, which contributes to improving health services offered to citizens and residents.

He noted that the continuation of this conference, which keeps pace with the latest developments in various eye surgeries for 24 consecutive years, is a testament to the substantial support provided by the Ministry to this vital specialty and a manifestation of its ongoing commitment to keeping abreast of swift scientific progress in this field while enhancing medical cooperation between Kuwait and leading international and regional medical centers.

For his part, the Chairman of the Conference Organizing Committee, Dr Ahmed Al-Foudari, emphasized in a similar speech the importance of the conference for gaining more experience and innovation in the realm of ophthalmology, with the participation of prominent ophthalmologists, researchers, and healthcare specialists from all over the world. Dr Al-Foudari stated that the conference, which will last for three days, reflects the dedication to promoting scientific advancement and professional development while ensuring that individuals receive the highest level of care, in addition to exploring pioneering research and improving the quality of life for millions of patients. — KUNA