KUN0082 4 GEN 0257 KUWAIT /KUNA-AXR7 HLT-BLOOD-CEREMONY-SHEIKH SABAH HH Sheikh Sabah patronizes ceremony to honor blood donors KUWAIT, Dec 18 (KUNA) -- His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah patronized on Saturday evening a ceremony to honor blood donors in Kuwait. Sheikh Sabah arrived at 7:00 PM local time at the Marriot Court Yard Hotel, where the ceremony was held and was received there by Health Minister Dr. Mohammad Al-Jarallah and senior health ministry officials. The ceremony was held under the slogan "A Day of Faithfulness to Humanity" and was attended by each of First Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, The National Guards Deputy Chief Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Minister of State for Amiri diwan Affairs Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Premier and Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Chairman of the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ali Al-Ghanem, and a number of ministers and advisors to the Amiri, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Diwans, National Security Chief Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and governors and Head of the Citizens Service and Government Bodies Assessment Agency Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Undersecretary of the Prime Minister's Diwan Ahmad Fahad Al-Fahad, Undersecretary of the Crown Prince Diwan Sheikh Mubarak Al-Faisal Al-Sabah and Undersecretary of the Amiri Diwan for Amiri Protocol Affairs Sheikh Khalid Al-Abdullah Al Sabah. Health Minister Dr. Mohammad Al-Jarallah told the ceremony that Kuwait's Blood Bank was placed among the top renowned and highly-appreciated centers in the region. The ceremony was held also to honor the Health Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for Blood Transfusion Services Affairs Dr. Abdul-Aziz Al-Bahsir, a holder of the Arab's premier award for blood transfusion services. Al-Jarallah said that Kuwait gives anew an example for all with honoring people with records of blood-transfusion-related services. He stressed that blood donation helps saving lives and that HH Sheikh Sabah was one of the country's consistent blood donors. For his part, Dr. Al-Bashir said that blood donors' sacrifices are seen as a noble activity that is essential for ending the agony of patients. He urged for more blood donations saying that only 3.5 percent of the gross population of Kuwait were blood donors. Al-Bashir also said that Kuwaiti hospitals receive 150-250 blood bags per day. He thanked Sheikh Sabah, the health minister and blood donors for their relevant efforts. (end) ad KUNA 182240 Dec 04NNNN