On April 20^th 2010, the Faculty of Nursing at the University held, in cooperation with the Thalassemia Patients' Friends Society in Palestine, a scientific conference on blood diseases. Several doctors from the Thalassemia Patients' Friends Society and the Faculty of Nursing participated in the event.

Dr. Adnan Sarhan, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, delivered a speech in which he thanked the participants for their attendance and presented a summary of the Faculty's facilities, programs and achievements such as the new B.A program in Midwifery and the Masters program for societal and mental health. Dr. Sarhan also emphasized that the University in general and the Faculty of Nursing in particular have been working on reinforcing scientific activities through holding conferences and seminars on different related topics.

The conference discussed several topics that the different doctors and instructors presented. Dr. Hisham Darwish, instructor at Al-Quds University, said that there are at least 12 hereditary diseases in Palestine; however, there are no specialized doctors to treat such diseases. He also added that this conference aimed to shed light on the importance of exchanging information and recognizing the problems that the Thalassemia patients face. "It is necessary to pay more attention to such diseases, especially Thalassemia". Dr. Darwish stressed.

He further presented a summary of this disease. He explained by that Thalassemia is a chronic non-contagious hereditary disease that affects blood production and in which genetic defect results in a reduced rate of synthesis of one of the globin chains that make up the hemoglobin. Therefore, blood becomes unable to function properly which finally results in anemia. Moreover, he mentioned that 4 % of the Palestinian population (around 120,000 people) are considered carriers of the disease.

Other participants spoke about issues such as sickle cell anemia, the psychological support of the Thalassemia patients, the different types of anemia, blood transfusion, the best and safest ways for blood transfusion, and Hemophilia diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Aidah Alkaissi, instructor at the Faculty of Nursing, spoke about the Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy (DIS) and explained pathologic physiology, the symptoms, the causes and the modern treatment methods. A number of posters about Thalassemia, Polycythemia, Help Syndrome, Hodgkin Disease and other related subjects were displayed at the conference.

The conference aimed to focus more on such diseases as Thalassemia since it is prevalent among people in the Mediterranean and to promote awareness among them regarding this disease. The participants further stressed the importance of supporting Thalassemia patients in terms of treatment and psychological support.