Under the patronage of Dr. Ahmad Al Arfaj, the Regional Executive Director of the Ministry of National Guard -Health Affairs (MNG-HA) in the Eastern Region, stem cell donation campaign has been concluded which was organized by Laboratories Department and Blood Bank at King Abdulaziz Hospital in Al-Ahsa and sponsored by the Saudi Stem Cells Donor Registry for five days in Primary Health Care Center and Hittin Clinic in King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Compound.
In addition, Dr. Al Arfaj stated "the campaign has achieved its goals in a remarkable way by informing the public about the right concepts of stem cell donation, which can save patients’ lives, and correct misconceptions", adding “the campaign targeted the age groups from 18 to 49, trying to raise community awareness about the importance of stem cell donation” .
He also added, "we were surprised by the large number of people enrolled in the Saudi Stem Cells Donor Registry, since it was above expectations and we are very pleased, the medical and nursing staff clarified through the workshops of the campaign the public about stem cell, the importance of donating them to patients, how to take samples and the method of donation”.
Last but not least, along with the booth for taking blood samples for examination, the organizers have allocated a different booth that answers the public questions and corrects the misconception about donation. The participants have to fill in the donation forms and then checked carefully as well the donation procedures, traveling costs and humanitarian sense of donating were clarified to the donors.