Mohammed bin Rashid, Mansour bin Zayed congratulate Prime Minister of Solomon Islands
ABU DHABI, 14th May 2024 (WAM) — His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, have sent congratulatory messages to Jeremiah Manele on his election as the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands.
DoH, M42 launch region’s largest hybrid cord blood bank
ABU DHABI, 14th May, 2024 (WAM) — The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and M42 have collaborated to launch the Abu Dhabi Biobank, with its first offering being the region’s largest hybrid cord blood bank.
Reinforcing the Emirate’s position as a leading destination for life sciences, the initiative aims to shorten waiting times for treatment, increase therapeutic access for patients, improve survival rates and reduce the economic burden on governments.
Announced at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week 2024 where M42 is participating as the Foundation Partner, the Abu Dhabi Biobank is part of the emirate’s vision of building a unique global biobanking hub delivering invaluable data assets for maximal impact on people’s health.
It will be a key pillar of health transformation and aims to deliver excellence by creating a diverse, foundational, bio-asset that supports therapeutic treatments, life science research for medical innovation, novel drug discovery targets and disease prevention to deliver the highest level of personalised, precise, and preventative healthcare for all.
The service will be introduced across four leading healthcare entities committed to maternal and child health across Abu Dhabi. Prospective parents can avail themselves of this service at Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children, part of the M42 group, Corniche Hospital, Kanad Hospital, and hospitals as part of NMC Healthcare.
Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH, said that the wealth of biological and medical data amassed by the Biobank will catalyse scientific breakthroughs, expediting drug discovery, thus contributing to the Emirate’s ability to find solutions for local and global health challenges. It will significantly impact clinical care and patient outcomes, emphasising cord-derived stem cell therapies and enabling local stem cell therapy delivery.
She added, “The Abu Dhabi Biobank’s ability to link cord blood, tissue, stem cells, and a wide range of normal and pathological human specimens with established large genomic, proteomics and clinical records sets the scene for transformative and cutting-edge initiatives.”
An important advancement for the nation’s health ecosystem, the cord blood bank of Abu Dhabi Biobank will enable better care outcomes, build the nation’s self-sufficiency in meeting the urgent need for cord blood stem cells, and further enhance regional capabilities in research and innovation.
Stem cells work like a ‘bio repair kit’, helping to heal, restore and replenish other cells that can be used to treat certain haematological and immune system disorders, like leukaemia, lymphoma and bone marrow diseases requiring a transplant.
With a capacity to store 100,000 cord blood samples and five million pan-human samples, the Biobank will create a rich, diverse dataset that can provide ready and better-matched hemopoietic stem cells globally. It aims to enhance community well-being through preventive measures and access to advanced, high-quality health services.
Abu Dhabi Biobank’s cord blood bank facility, situated in M42’s Omics Centre of Excellence, is equipped with state-of-the-art automated technology and the best large-capacity biobanking infrastructure. This infrastructure will preserve samples safely and securely, thereby making them viable for research and therapeutic use for 30 years.
Ashish Koshy, Group Chief Operating Officer of M42, said, “The Abu Dhabi Biobank will foster global innovation in therapy development, as it holds huge potential for regenerative medicine, aiding in rare disease treatment, genetic screening, early detection, and scientific research. We’re proud to partner with DoH on this initiative, and we look forward to collaborating with them and other healthcare providers to drive progress in health and reinforce Abu Dhabi’s position as a global life science hub.”
The cord blood bank locally collects and preserves umbilical cord cells, offering donors the choice of preserving a newborn’s stem cells at birth, for potentially lifesaving treatments at no risk to them or their baby.
Expectant mothers can preserve their baby’s cord blood by opting for a safe, secure, painless, and non-intrusive process that can save lives and help build a healthier nation. They will have the opportunity to preserve the stem cells as part of public or private banking.
Mansour bin Zayed honours winners of second Nafis Award
On the occasion, Sheikh Mansour thanked the award’s winners and partners for supporting the council’s objectives, stressing that the award recognises exceptional establishments that support Emiratisation, honours national talents who have succeeded in their roles in the private and banking sectors, and promotes a culture of excellence and competition among citizens in the labour market.
He also lauded the positive competition witnessed during the award’s second edition, affirming that its primary goal is to support national talents in the private and banking sectors and encourage them to develop and grow in their professional careers.
Additionally, it aims to encourage competition among private sector establishments to increase their Emiratisation rates, in line with the UAE leadership’s vision and the government’s strategic plan to support Emiratisation initiatives in the private and banking sectors, he added.
Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, highlighted the award’s importance in motivating national talents to achieve further professional success and recognising outstanding companies in the field of Emiratisation.
The Nafis Award crowns the efforts of private companies that successfully embodied the leadership’s vision to increase the participation of Emirati talent in the private sector across various fields and professional specialities, therefore, enhancing their contributions to sustainable economic development, he added.
For his part, Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), affirmed that the bank prioritises achieving Emiratisation and empowering citizens in the financial sector through integrated strategies and a sustainable Emiratisation system to create 5,000 job opportunities for citizens in vital and specialist positions across 22 educational pathways and 30 percent in leadership roles by 2026.
Furthermore, CBUAE aims to launch unique initiatives and programmes to expand the base of citizens working in the financial sector, including the “Ithraa” programme for Emiratisation in the banking, financial, and insurance sectors, which achieved exceptional results in its first year by exceeding its target for 2023, with the percentage of Emirati citizens in key positions in banks rising to 31 percent, and in the insurance sector to 23 percent, he further said.
Ghannam Al Mazrouei, Secretary-General of the ETCC, said the award’s second edition also witnessed a 98 percent increase in the number of self-nomination applications for the individual category compared to the first edition, which has helped to achieve the council’s goals of developing the skills of citizens working in this vital sector and encouraging them to continue their outstanding efforts, which in turn builds a culture of excellence and improves the performance of establishments.
The award provides an opportunity for citizens working in the private and banking sectors to participate and celebrate their efforts and professional excellence, he added.
During the ceremony, the ETCC announced the names of the winners of the award’s individual categories. In ten subcategories, 30 UAE citizens working in the private and banking sectors won the top three positions.
The ETCC also announced the names of winning establishments from 14 sectors registered under the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and the Central Bank of the UAE.
The ceremony was attended by several ministers, senior officials, business leaders, and public figures. The awards recognised the achievements of winners in both the individual and establishment categories for 2023, and honoured several establishments that made exceptional efforts to support Emiratisation, alongside the partners of the ETCC.
Mansour bin Zayed chairs Ministerial Development Council’s meeting, discusses several government initiatives, projects
ABU DHABI, 14th May, 2024 (WAM) — His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, today chaired the Ministerial Development Council meeting, which took place at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi.
During the meeting, the Council discussed a number of initiatives, projects, and regulatory guides submitted by ministries and federal departments to promote government work and enhance the efficiency of strategic sectors in the country.
The Council also discussed the government guidelines related to regulating the public financial affairs of the federal government, in addition to a number of proposed national policies and projects in the fields of education, culture, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and economy.
The meeting also reviewed reports and updates on the implementation of national strategies and policies across a number of sectors.
The Ministerial Development Council reviewed the requests and recommendations of the Federal National Council regarding a number of government topics, as well as the results of the country’s participation in international conferences and events.
UAE President receives participants in Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week
ABU DHABI, 14th May, 2024 (WAM) — President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today received at Qasr Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi several health ministers and officials participating in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week (ADGHW).
During the meeting, His Highness extended a warm welcome to the guests, joined by Mansour Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi.
He wished them success in their contributions to this global event aimed at achieving outcomes that will form the basis for future strategic planning in the global health sector.
His Highness highlighted the significance of these gatherings for exchanging ideas and insights on the latest trends and technological advances shaping the global healthcare system. He also stressed the importance of developing innovative solutions to address challenges facing the health sector.
His Highness emphasised that the UAE is committed to supporting all efforts and initiatives aimed at advancing the future of healthcare and strengthening global health systems while also promoting investments in healthcare development for the greater good of humanity.
Participants expressed their appreciation to the UAE and the organisers of the Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week, which provides a vital platform for dialogue and the exchange of ideas on future healthcare needs and strategies for advancing healthcare through a proactive and preventive approach.