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Minister of Health Faeqa Al-Saleh inspected the Genome Laboratory and Biobank project at the Salmaniya Medical Complex to review its readiness.
Her Excellency the Minister of Health, Ms. Faeqa bint Saeed Al Saleh, paid an inspection visit on the morning of Tuesday, 16 July 2019, to the Salmaniya Medical Complex, where she visited Al-Fateh Building and was briefed on the genome laboratory and biobank project. This visit is part of the inspection visits carried out by the Minister of Health to review the readiness of construction projects and to ensure that the achievements made are sufficient to hand over the project to the relevant parties at the Ministry.
During her visit to the biobank project "Genome Laboratory," which is expected to be handed over in August, the engineers revealed that work is underway to complete the final preparations of the construction work in the department. Minister Al Saleh was briefed on all the details related to preparing and setting up the laboratory to receive samples and separate DNA using the latest laboratory devices and equipment.
The Head of the Bahrain Genome Project, Dr. Amani Al-Hajeri, explained that preparations are proceeding at full pace in order to complete the collection of the required number of samples for the Bahrain Genome Project. She said that the unit is divided into several sections, including an examination and blood-drawing room, a cytogenetics room that includes a sterile room for tissue and cell culturing according to the required specifications, a molecular genetics room that includes devices for detecting genetic mutations, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) device room, which is also kept in a sterile environment to reduce the possibility of sample contamination, and the biobank section, which contains automatic and rapid DNA separation devices and special freezing devices in which samples are stored at -80 degrees Celsius below zero until they are used. The laboratory will also include office rooms and a library, and the work team was keen to ensure that all precise details ensuring safety and quality in the laboratory were included.
Dr. Al-Hajeri invited those wishing to undergo the tests to head to the blood sample collection points, and stressed the importance of this national project, which aims to provide better life opportunities for future generations, improve treatment opportunities, raise the quality of health services, and prevent diseases for current generations, by providing a DNA database for the Bahraini people. The reading and analysis of this data will significantly contribute to improving disease diagnosis and its early detection, as well as determining the extent to which individuals are susceptible to it.
For her part, Her Excellency the Minister of Health also confirmed during the inspection visit that the Ministry continues to implement its coordination plans precisely and continuously to follow up on vital and important projects, noting that this project will contribute to the prevention of genetic diseases and the development of effective medicines to treat them, which will help provide a healthy life and disease prevention for current and future generations, and will elevate the standing of our precious Kingdom. Her Excellency the Minister of Health also praised the level of competence enjoyed by the work teams through their tangible efforts towards preparing the project, which effectively contribute to achieving the desired advancement in the medical services provided, thereby enhancing the scope of the sincere efforts made and the joint coordination among all relevant parties in order to achieve the desired goals.
