19th Nov 2013 is Holiday

Photo Courtesy to Kuwait Upto Date - shared by Mariam

The 3rd Africa Arab Summit is taking place on 19th and 20th November 2013 corresponding to Tuesday and Wednesday. As many as 71 delegations from nations and international organisation are to attend the summit, including over 34 head of state, seven deputy leaders and three prime ministers (CLICK HERE for the source). Therefore there is a lot of activity going around in Kuwait. Based on the size of the event, the Government of Kuwait has declared a government holiday for the 19th November 2013, Tuesday. This applies to Government offices and across government schools. The private companies and schools have to make their own decision. Below is the Circular released by the Council of Ministers with regard to 19th November 2013 being declared a Rest day.

Now this brings us to others subjects, like traffic management issues before, during and after the summit takes place. We should be keeping the eyes on the newspapers for more information with this regard. Already we should be feeling the presence of the Traffic Police in full action performing drills since Saturday 9th November 2013. MOI has informed us about the traffic diversions that need to be taken. KUNA articles covers this information. CLICK HERE for the KUNA article. The gist of the articles is as follows:

Closing down Sabhan Route, starting from the Seventh Ring Road en route to each King Faisal and Riyadh Motoways (opposite the area of Yarmouk). All the drivers are advised to use Sheikh Zayed Motorway. For people exiting the Kuwait International Airport are suggested to use Ghazali Road. For people heading to the Kuwait International Airport are suggest to use either Sheikh Zayed, the Sixth Ring Road or Ghazali Motorways.

• Starting on 16th November 2013, Saturday - 11:30 pm.
• Official Welcoming schedule of the guest, Sunday, 17th Nov - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm.
• 18th Nov, Monday - 10 am to 1 pm for the morning.
• 18th Nov, Monday - 5:30 pm to 7 pm for the evening.

UPDATE (18/11/2013): Civil Service Commission (CSC) declares that 19/11/2013 is a holiday across government and public institutions based on Cabinet Decision number 1415 dated 11/11/2013. CLICK HERE for the KUNA article.

Road Closures for 19th November 2013 have been put up. Please take alternative routes to different destinations and also keep in mind the wonderful weather we are having to plan your movement around Kuwait.

Photo Courtesy to Kuwait Upto Date

The Roads that will be closed for Public use (Not throughout the day) are

• King Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz Motorway from Kuwait International Airport ( to and fro ) till 5th Ring Road Intersection.
• Sabhan - Magwa Road from 7th Ring Road ( to and fro ) till King Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz Motorway.
• Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz Road ( Road Number 206 or popularly known as Khaitan Naadi/Club Road) from Khaitan Sports Club till Mishref-Bayan Area.
• Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz Motorway between 5th and 6th Ring Roads.

Banks declaring holiday for the 19th November 2013 is another developing news. Confirmed reports from the Banks itself are still coming out. Kuwait Finance House, National Bank of Kuwait and Gulf Bank have declared 19th November 2013 as a holiday and they will reopen on 20th November 2013.

Tweet Courtesy to Twitter

UPDATE (19/11/2013): Kuwait Central Blood Bank (KCBB) has announced its timings for 19/11/2013. The Blood Bank will be open from 8 am until 1 pm.

Tweet Courtesy to Twitter - Official Kuwait Central Blood Bank

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