Leaders from around the world will come together in Washington, D.C. this Friday, March 15, 2013, for the inaugural International Blood Safety Forum, an event intended to improve and increase global participation in blood safety reform worldwide. Global Healing, a leading international medical non-profit organization, and America's Blood Centers, are co-hosting the event with sponsorship provided by Helmer Scientific, a leading manufacturer and global distributor of laboratory equipment and refrigeration products. Collaboration between organizations and increased visibility will grow the resources available to international organizations and improve the efficiency of related programs.
"Ensuring that a safe and adequate blood supply is available for all patients in need remains a top priority for our industry," said Dr. Dan Waxman, president of America's Blood Centers. "This forum will provide a unique opportunity to share best practices, explore partnerships, and discuss the challenges that we face globally on a daily basis when it comes to blood safety."
Like any industry, the organizations and individuals currently engaged in blood safety reform at national and international levels are often disparate and isolated from one another. In mutual recognition of the need to collaborate and improve the effectiveness of programs, delegates from nine countries are convening. These countries include: the United States, Canada, England, the Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Honduras, Nigeria, South Africa and Georgia. Keynote speaker, Anthony Marfin, MD, MPH, MA, team leader of the Medical Transmission Prevention Team within CDC's Global HIV/AIDS division, will speak about the United States' role in the international effort. Other speakers will describe the landscape of blood safety around the world and depict the challenges and successes so far. The event will culminate in the showcasing of a website that will facilitate communication between international organizations and individuals, as well as those offering goods or services and those that need them, cutting down on waste.
"At Helmer Scientific we strongly believe in serving unselfishly and working as a team," said David Helmer, Co-founder and Owner, Helmer Scientific. "Standing behind an initiative like this speaks to the core of who we are as a company - to collaborate with one another to assist those who need it the most."
According to Luke Ifland, president of Global Healing, "By collectivizing our attention and speaking with one voice, we are able to accomplish significantly more. We are confident that this generous and thoughtful community engaged in life-saving work will provide an example for other sectors of international development to follow."
About Global Healing
Global Healing is a US-registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization devoted to providing modern medical equipment, supplies and training to the developing world. It was established in 1994, initially to train and equip a team of pediatric cardiology surgeons in Tbilisi, Georgia to perform the nation's first ever pediatric open-heart surgeries. Global Healing has since started medical programs in Armenia, Honduras, Dominica, Moldova, Nepal, Haiti and Ukraine. More information can be found at www.globalhealing.org.
About America's Blood Centers
Founded in 1962, America's Blood Centers is North America's largest network of community-based, independent blood programs. Recognized by the U.S. Congress for its critical work in patient care and disaster preparedness and response, the federation operates more than 600 blood donor centers providing half of the U.S., and a quarter of the Canadian blood supply.
These blood centers serve more than 150 million people and provide blood products and services to more than 3,500 hospitals and healthcare facilities across North America. America's Blood Centers' U.S. members are licensed and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Canadian members are regulated by Health Canada.
About Helmer Scientific
Helmer Scientific is a leading manufacturer and global distributor of laboratory equipment and refrigeration products for the life science industry with a passion to serve its customers in their efforts to improve and save lives. Helmer Global Initiatives (HGI) is a corporate effort of Helmer Scientific to engage individuals and organizations in efforts of generosity at their highest level of capability to provide aid and justice for poor and vulnerable people. For more information please visit www.helmerinc.com.
