Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Damascus, SANA- The activities of Damascus Stem Cell Forum, began Saturday with the aim of exchanging experiences and enhancing scientific cooperation in the domain of stem cell therapy.
The Forum is being held by National Center for Stem Cells (Hayat), in cooperation with National Cancer Control Committee (NCCC) at Sheraton Hotel in Damascus.
The event is organized on the occasion of the second anniversary of the opening of the National Stem Cell Center of the Children’s Teaching Hospital, and the debates that will last two days will address the basic sciences of stem cells, the local experience in this field, the presentation of cases clinical.
Ways of how to provide psychological support to patients and their families during the treatment period will also be discussed, as well as indications regarding stem cells in other medical specialties.
Head of NCCC, Dr. Arwa al-Azma, stressed the importance of opening the cell center two years ago, as it was considered an important scientific achievement in the scientific life in Syria, and it is the first in the domain of marrow and stem cell transplantation in children, which works according to the highest international standards, and provided medicines for all children free of charge during the completely treatment period.
In turn, the Director of the Center, Majed Khader, said that it receives all children who need a transplant, and has been able to perform 25 autologous and allogeneic transplants in the last two years.
He indicated that as a result of the great difficulties and lack of some equipment, especially laboratory equipment, there has been cooperation to create agreements and memorandums of understanding with the Tishreen military hospital, the Atomic Energy Authority and the Damascus University Blood Bank, to provide blood products that the patient needs during the transplant, and to provide medicines through donations and associations.
Hybah/Mhamad
