Events

As in previous years, the Emirates Thalassemia Society is celebrating World Thalassemia Day by launching a variety of initiatives to spread cultural and health awareness about thalassemia, while also supporting patients with all possible support. Under the generous patronage of the wife of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Advisor to the President of the State, may God protect him, Sheikha Sheikha bint Saif Al Nahyan, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Thalassemia Society, and in her presence, the Society organized the third brainstorming forum entitled "We gather you today... to make you happy tomorrow" on the occasion of World Thalassemia Day. The forum was attended by members of the Society's Board of Directors, a group of doctors specializing in thalassemia, blood diseases, bone marrow transplantation, gene therapy, dentistry, and other relevant doctors, as well as nursing staff, social workers, and administrators working in the field, in addition to a number of thalassemia champions and families. The forum aimed to discuss the latest developments in thalassemia treatment methods and all the new developments in the medical field worldwide. The needs of thalassemia patients and their expectations for the services provided to them were also discussed, and various medical fields were discussed face-to-face with specialist doctors. Some success stories of thalassemia champions were also presented. Based on the association's vision of the necessity of combining efforts between ministries and government and private bodies to achieve the benefit of society in general and thalassemia patients in particular, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Community Protection, an initiative was implemented to illuminate a large number of the country's most important and prominent landmarks in red on the occasion of World Thalassemia Day. These landmarks included the Dusit Thani Hotel and the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the Dubai Frame in the Emirate of Dubai, the House of Wisdom in the Emirate of Sharjah, the Umm Al Quwain Municipality and the House of Antiquities and Tourism in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain, the Ras Al Khaimah Museum in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman Square in the Emirate of Ajman, and Fujairah Fort in the Emirate of Fujairah. Sheikha Sheikha bint Saif Al Nahyan, wife of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Advisor to His Highness the President of the UAE, may God protect him, and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Thalassemia Society, expressed her happiness at organizing the third forum, entitled "We gather you today... to make you happy tomorrow," for the ideas it discussed and the recommendations it yielded, aiming to provide the best services to thalassemia patients. She also expressed her sincere thanks to the Ministry of Health and Community Protection for their continuous cooperation with the Society as a strategic partner in many positive initiatives, which have contributed and continue to contribute to spreading cultural and health awareness about thalassemia and limiting its spread by reducing the number of new births. She encourages the Society and other institutions to hold such events, which have a significant impact on the development and prosperity of society. She praised the initiative to illuminate the most prominent landmarks of the country in red, which has been repeated over the past two years, and hopes to implement many new initiatives. Ms. Khalida Khammas, Member of the Board of Directors of the Association, Secretary - Executive Director (volunteer), said that the discussions that took place today were very fruitful and highlighted many bright points and gave great hope to patients and their families, especially with regard to the new gene therapy or discussing developments in bone marrow transplant operations and various specialties and bringing patients closer to doctors to obtain satisfactory answers to their inquiries. This is the goal of organizing the forum. She extended her thanks and gratitude to Her Highness Sheikha Sheikha bint Saif Al Nahyan, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Association, for her support for this forum, which was held under her generous patronage. Regarding the entities that were honored today, Khalida explained that without the combined efforts of the Association, ministries, and governmental and private bodies, we would not have achieved all this success in supporting and assisting thalassemia patients. Khalida announced that the Association would honor a number of its strategic partners during the forum by awarding them the “Thank you.. Your support is happiness” shield, headed by the Ministry of Health and Community Protection, the Community Development Authority in Dubai, the Union Cooperative, Sharjah Charity House, Global Law Office and Legal Consultations, and the Bristol Foundation. Myers Squibb. His Excellency Abdul Basit Mirdas, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association, expressed his happiness with the positive interaction achieved by the forum between the participants, especially doctors, patients and their families, as the patients and their families inquired about new treatment methods and everything new in the medical field, and the doctors responded to all these inquiries with comprehensive explanations. He explained the importance of this forum as it addresses a different approach between all parties of the system represented by doctors and administrators from the Ministry of Health and Community Protection and the other party, the Emirates Thalassemia Society, which is the only association for thalassemia patients in the country, in addition to patients and their families, and listening to suggestions and discussions that always result in results that serve patients and develop the performance and services provided to them. Mirdas also added that the Association has today expanded the scope of its partnerships with new institutions that serve patients in all fields. On the medical level, the Association today signed a memorandum of understanding with the Laser Medical Center (LMS) for Dentistry with the aim of serving and caring for thalassemia patients who have various dental problems. It was agreed to treat a specific number of thalassemia patients who deserve support free of charge and to support others. With discounts of up to 40% on all services provided by the center, the association also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Global Law Office and Legal Consultations to support the association. All of this adds to the association and supports patients in various ways.