Saturday, April 28, 2012

International Space Station Fly over

The ISS (International Space Station) passes over the world many times during the day. So this is not suppose to be a big deal. Coming Sunday in the evening at 7pm Kuwait Local Time (4pm GMT), the fly over Kuwait will last for 5 minutes. The usual fly over time lasts between 1-2 minutes. The Kuwait Science Club (KSClub) in Zahra area (next to 360 Mall) has an Astronomy Club which actively follows these events. The schedule for the International Space Station fly over can be seen below or on THIS SITE (Real Time Data).


THE FOLLOWING ISS SIGHTINGS ARE POSSIBLE FROM FRI APR 27 TO SAT MAY 12
SATELLITE
LOCAL
DURATION
MAX ELEV
APPROACH
DEPARTURE
DATE/TIME
(MIN)
(DEG)
(DEG-DIR)
(DEG-DIR)
ISS
Fri Apr 27/07:16 PM
2
11
10 above NNE10 above ENE
ISS
Sat Apr 28/07:56 PM
2
51
16 above NNW51 above NNE
ISS
Sun Apr 29/07:00 PM
5
23
11 above NNW12 above E
ISS
Sun Apr 29/08:37 PM
< 1
13
10 above W13 above W
ISS
Mon Apr 30/07:43 PM
2
50
32 above WNW36 above S
ISS
Tue May 01/06:46 PM
5
56
20 above NNW11 above SE
ISS
Wed May 02/07:28 PM
3
19
16 above WSW10 above S



According to the above schedule, another chance will be there on Tuesday at 6:46 pm Kuwait local time.

Monday, April 23, 2012

KDD (Kuwait Danish Dairy)

KDD (Kuwait Danish Dairy) has been around since 1962 in Kuwait. It started from its Shuwaikh plant and now most of its operations are carried out from Subhan plant. It has over 160 types of products ranging from dairy, juice, ice-cream, culinary and even virgin olive oil. KDD website is really informative and can be accessed in both Arabic and English languages. Details on the all range of products can be viewed on the website.

KDD has two outlets in Kuwait - one in Shuwaikh next to factory on street 17 (Click Here to see in Google maps) and one Outlet in Maidan Hawally (Click here to see in Google maps) (I also heard that one outlet is available at Camp Arifjan). The price at the outlets are less when compared to the supermarkets and grocery stores. The quality of products KDD produces are still amazing. At the Shuwaikh outlet, one can purchase a cone ice-cream of flavours - Vanilla, Chocolate or mixed for a price of KD 1/4 (250 fils = 90 U.S cents). I have attached a pic of the cone ice-cream which has a 2 - 1/2 inch ice-cream on the top. People should definitely give it a try. The timings for the Shuwaikh outlet is from 8:30 am to 9:30 pm throughout the week.

KDD is also on Facebook and on Twitter.

Shuwaikh factory gate and outlet

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Kuwait Central Blood Bank Updated



UPDATE (16/11/2021)
Locations of the various Blood banks across Kuwait.



(10/04/2012) Post

Kuwait's health system is something we can talk about which will lead to many posts. But for this particular post, I would like to talk about the Central Blood Bank which is located in Jabriya next to Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital. I have been to the blood bank on many occasions, not on the receiving side but to give blood. My friends and me used to give blood when we were studying at college in India and it kind of became a habit. One fine day, I dropped by at the Kuwait Central Blood Bank after I was able to located it on Google Maps.There is sufficient parking available and also one can get down (By Bus) at Al-Bahar Center, Tunis Street, Hawally and walk 200 meters to the Blood Bank. The timings for the Blood bank are as follows:
  • Sunday - Thursday - 7 am to 8:30 pm
  • Friday - 1 pm to 7 pm
  • Saturday - 7 am to 7 pm
The process of giving blood is simple for first timers or for regular donors. Once you enter, you just have to give your Civil ID card so that they can check their system. For first timers, they will ask you to give some basic information like phone number and language of preference for answering the questionnaire. My language preference is entered as English so whenever I give my civil ID they just print out the questionnaire in English for me, while for my friends who opted for Arabic it prints out in Arabic every single time (unless you feel like changing it). Once I answer the basic questions (look below for the sample of the questionnaire), my blood pressure, Blood sugar and body temperature is monitored and entered into the system. If the values are other than normal, then you can visit the doctors in the next cabin to get a free consultation. Once you enter the blood donation room, it is time to sit back and relax and let the nurses take care of the process. It varies from 5- 25 minutes. During that time you can browse through your smart phone , no restrictions applied here for the phones. You get a complimentary juice (KDD). One can return back, to give blood after a period of 2-4 months. Also many government bodies and companies organize Blood Donation Camps once in a while on their own premises (under the watchful eye of the Kuwait Central Blood Bank or the Ministry of Health), one can give during those campaigns.

UPDATE (16/08/2013): Regular Timings
  • Sunday to Thursday - 7 am to 9 pm
  • Friday - 1 pm to 7 pm
  • Saturday - 7 am to 7 pm.
UPDATE (29/06/2014): Ramadan Timings
  • Saturday to Thursday - 10 am to 2 pm.
  • Saturday to Thursday - 8 pm to 1 am.
  • Friday - 8 pm to 1 am.
Twitter account for the Kuwait Central Blood Bank ( KCBB) : CLICK HERE.
Instagram account for the Kuwait Central Blood Bank (KCBB) : CLICK HERE.
Photo Courtesy to Kuwait Central Blood Bank Instagram
Kuwait Central Blood Bank Update 25/08/2013

Kuwait Central Blood Bank Update 25/08/2013




New type of Bandage applied to the forearm after giving blood


UPDATE (11/08/2014) : Kuwait Central Blood Bank timings for blood donations
  • Saturday - Thursday : 7:30 am to 8:30 pm.
  • Friday : 1 pm to 7 pm.
Instagram account - 11/08/2014

Twitter Account - 11/08/2014
UPDATE (11/08/2014): Ministry of Health has quashed reports which have been circulating about the Kuwait Central Blood Bank storage was running into Bankruptcy. Head of the KCCB Reem Al-Radwan reported on Sunday that the reports were 'groundless'. (Source: KUNA)

Due to the month of Ramadan and Eid-Al-Fitr, the donations were on a decline. Therefore the general storage reduced a little bit. MoH is intensifying blood donation campaigns to restore the strategic storage at the Central Blood Bank. Kuwait Army launches Blood Donation Campaign, CLICK HERE to see the article. Another Campaign took place in Ministry of Electricity and Water, MEW on Sunday, 10/08/2014. Both Citizens and Expatriates are encouraged to donate at Kuwait Central Blood Bank, Jabriya.
Update - 11/08/2014. Front Entrance

Update - 11/08/2014. The Flags on the top of the Banks need to be Changed.
UPDATE (Ramadan 1436 / 2015) : CLICK HERE to Check out the Ramadan Timings.

UPDATE (10/08/2015) : Timings updated
Photo Courtesy to kwbloodbank Instagram
Timings for Jabriya, Kuwait Central Blood Bank for Blood Donations

  • Sunday to Thursday - 7 am to 8 pm
  • Friday - 1 pm to 7 pm
  • Saturday - 7 am to 7 pm
Photo Courtesy to kwbloodbank Instagram
Timings for Jabriya, Kuwait Central Blood Bank for Platelet Donations (mainly when donating for patients undergoing surgery )
  • Sunday to Thursday - 7 am to 1 pm
  • Tuesday only - 7 am to 4 pm
  • Saturday - 7 am to 1 pm
Photo Courtesy to kwbloodbank Instagram
Platelet donors requirements - Age above 17 years and the weight of the person should be above 50 kgs. Also the interested donor should not be taking painkillers or antibiotics for 5 days before the donation process.
Blood Platelets donation is the second type of donation done at the Blood Bank, where the platelets are drawn through the separator device and the rest of the blood components are restored/returned to the donor. Usually done in Room No 5. Once the screening process is finished and the blood test report, Blood Pressure and other preliminary checks are done and verified. The donor is given a green signal for a go ahead for Platelet donations which can last up 90 minutes. So advice is to get a book to read or atleast charge your phones & get used to using it with a single hand.

The Apheresis Donation Unit is the location for Platelet Donations.

The Form is in English or Arabic depending on your choice of language.
This is for either Blood Donation or Platelet Donation.

Pre Donation Instruction for Platelet Donation in English

Pre Donation Instruction for Platelet Donation in Arabic

Letter of Consent for Platelet Donation

Pre Donation instruction for Apheresis Platelet Donors in English & Arabic
Just for your Information, with regard to Ebola Virus
The Application form created at the KCBB when a Patient needs Platelets.
based on the letter given by the hospital asking the blood bank to provide them with the required.
Update (30/05/2016): Timings

Jabriya Kuwait Central Blood Bank (Main Blood Bank)
  • Sunday to Thursday - 7am to 8pm
  • Friday - 1pm to 7pm
  • Saturday 7am to 6pm
Blood Bank - Adan Hospital branch
  • Sunday to Thursday - 8am to 1pm
  • Sunday to Thursday - 4pm to 8pm
Blood Bank - Jahra Hospital branch
  • Sunday to Thursday - 8am to 1pm
Blood Bank - Kuwait National Guard (KNG) branch
  • Sunday to Thursday - 8am to 1pm
Blood Bank - Amiri Hospital branch
  • Sunday to Thursday - 8am to 1pm
    Photo Courtesy to KCBB

Update (06/06/2016): Ramadan Timings

Kuwait Central Blood Bank - Jabriya (Source: CLICK HERE)
  • Sunday to Thursday: 10am - 2pm and 9pm -1am
  • Friday to Saturday: 9pm - 1am
Kuwait Blood Bank Branches Timing (Source: CLICK HERE)
  • Adan Hospital branch: Sunday to Thursday 9pm - 1am
  • Jahra Hospital branch: Sunday to Thursday 9pm - 1am
  • Al Amiri Center branch: Sunday to Thursday 8pm - 12midnight
  • KNG Shuwaikh branch: Sunday to Thursday 8pm - 12midnight

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Trenda showroom

New showroom opened up at Dajeej, Farwaniya. Trenda Showroom for Furniture with three stories of space with Dining in the basement, Living on the ground level and Bedroom in the first level. The Cafe with enough of seating space is between the ground and basement level. Next to the NJA Cafe (Not Just Another Cafe) is a space for kids to hang out or even for adults alike. There is enough of car parking space in front of the showroom and the location is easy enough to spot. One can get there if they take the exit ramp on 6th Ring Road just after Jleeb Al Shyoukh for Ghazali Road BUT keep going straight.and enter into Dajeej. Even coming on 6th Ring Road from Messila direction, one can take a U-turn using the Ghazali - 6th intersection. Timing for the showroom are 9am to 10pm throughout the week. They are also on facebook. There is an article about its inauguration, Click here. Here are some pics of the showroom.