The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States (Social Affairs Sector - Health and Humanitarian Aid Department - Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Health Ministers) organised the 14th Arab Conference on Blood Transfusion Medicine, in cooperation and coordination with the Arab Authority for Blood Transfusion Services. The conference, held from 30 November to 2 December in the State of Qatar, was accompanied by the 22nd meeting of the Arab Authority for Blood Transfusion Services. Representatives from Arab member states specialising in blood transfusion, along with numerous experts in the field, participated in this significant event.
Ambassador Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Secretary-General and head of the Social Affairs Sector, highlighted that this conference is part of the ongoing efforts to follow up on the implementation of the Arab Health Ministers Council Resolution 12, issued during its 60th ordinary session in Geneva on 26 May 2024. The resolution's sixth paragraph specifically welcomed Qatar’s hosting of the 14th Arab Conference on Blood Transfusion Services in the last quarter of 2024.
The conference programme addressed a range of crucial topics, including best practices and challenges facing this vital sector, such as: blood transfusion strategies for hereditary blood disorders and cancer, massive bleeding management, reports on Arab countries' achievements and challenges, infections transmitted through blood transfusion, emergency preparedness and crisis management, enhancing the quality of blood donation, the rare blood group programme in Arab countries, and numerous other key issues impacting the field.
Ambassador Dr. Abu Ghazaleh stated that the Arab Authority for Blood Transfusion Services, since its establishment in 1979 by a resolution of the Council of Arab Health Ministers, has been dedicated to advancing blood transfusion services across the Arab world and fostering the exchange of expertise among Arab nations. This has been achieved through the biennial blood transfusion conference, as outlined in the Authority's founding regulations. The Ambassador further noted that the State of Qatar assumed the presidency of the Arab Authority for Blood Transfusion Services for the period 2023-2025, following a resolution made during the 58th ordinary session of the Council of Arab Health Ministers, held on 14 March 2024, in the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria.
Her Excellency added that the meeting is taking place alongside the 22nd Conference of the Arab Authority for Blood Transfusion Services, as stipulated in Article 6 of the Authority's bylaws, which mandates that its meetings be held in conjunction with the conference. The meeting’s agenda includes discussions on the Arab Award for Blood Transfusion Services Regulations, in line with the Resolution of the Council of Arab Health Ministers 12 from its session on 26 May 2024 in Geneva. The Resolution’s Article 5 called for the Arab Authority for Blood Transfusion Services to convene to update the Arab Award regulations.
Additionally, the meeting will address several key issues, including a review of Resolution 12 regarding the Arab Authority for Blood Transfusion Services, adopted during the 60th ordinary session in Geneva on 26 May 2024. Other agenda items include the Authority’s future work plan, which involves updating its website, discussing the Authority's Scientific Advisory Council, nominating the presidency for the 2025-2027 period, and determining the host country for the Authority’s 15th conference. Ambassador Abu Ghazaleh confirmed that the recommendations from both the conference and the meeting will be submitted to the Council of Arab Health Ministers at its next session.
