KUWAIT, Nov 26 (KUNA) -- Kuwait has been among the region's countries that made great steps in organ transplant, Minster of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi said on Wednesday.
Delivering a speech during the opening the 19th Congress of Asian Society of Transplantation (CAST) in Kuwait for the first time, the minister added Kuwait has commenced the journey of kidney transplant decades ago and has recently launched a program of heart transplant.
The country is also about to activate liver and lung transplant within months, he told the four-day conference, which witnesses global participation.
The Gulf and Middle East regions are witnessing growing demand for organ transplant services, he noted, highlighting professional national cadres in this matter.
Meanwhile, head of the conference Dr. Mustafa Al-Moussawi said the event aims to discuss ways of dealing with the shortage of organs and provide the latest knowledge in all domains of this practice.
The event is featuring 300 lecturers, multiple scientific workshops, 700 participants and 100 speakers of 28 countries across the globe, he noted.
Dr. Turki Al-Otaibi, head of the conference's scientific committee, said Kuwait started the first kidney transplant in 1979, and it is committed to boosting the program of organ donation. (end) ns.tab.hm