 “Not everything man hopes can be realized, but what cannot be fully realized, should not be fully neglected.” This Arabic saying is dear to the heart of Magdy El Ekiaby, WFH volunteer and renowned hematologist, who heads the blood transfusion department at Cairo’s Shabrawichi Hospital in Egypt.
One can safely say there is nothing neglectful about Magdy. He is considered a leading expert in his field, one who has gained the respect of his own colleagues as well as his patients. “He bridges the gap between doctors and patients,” says Assad Haffar, WFH Regional Program Manager for the Middle East. “Because of his personality and belief in the human issues of hemophilia care, he has become a role model for other physicians in the region.”
He adds, “Everyone in hemophilia care in the Middle East knows or has heard of Magdy. He has provided tremendous leadership throughout the region. For example, he helped found the Hemophilia Society of Bahrain, which became a WFH associate member in 2006.”
Magdy is also a gifted researcher engaged in cutting edge development of blood treatment technology. In 2000, he began research with an international team of physicians on the mechanical removal of viruses from plasma for clinical transfusion. Their work culminated three years later with the development of a disposable bag system. This innovative system has the capacity of providing on-site viral inactivation of both plasma and cryoprecipitate.
“Because of his personality and belief in the human issues of hemophilia care, he has become a role model
for other physicians in the region.”
“The main objective of this technology is to provide safe, standardized, and most importantly, affordable cryoprecipitate for treatment of hemophiliacs in the developing world,” Magdy explains.
David Page, CEO of the Canadian Hemophilia Society, visited the experimental site in September of 2007. “At the very least, we have to say it has potential,” Mr. Page comments. Although he notes that further tests are required, he is optimistic that the technology could represent a “huge step forward” for the treatment of hemophilia in lesser-developed nations.
Magdy’s concern for the developing world has not eclipsed his focus on hemophilia care at home in Egypt. Right now, he is getting ready to host the country’s first Global Feast, a major fundraising event in support of hemophilia care that is conducted jointly with the WFH. Egyptian Red Cross and the Rotary Club have joined as event partners. Event proceeds will be used for emergency care of Egyptian children with bleeding disorders.
Magdy describes his work as his life’s mission. Although a regional leader, a researcher, and fundraiser, he devotes most of his time to treating the more than four thousand people with hemophilia in Egypt. “When you succeed in properly managing a painful bleeding episode in a hemophiliac, when you succeed in correcting a deformity or inability, one feels unparalleled happiness and satisfaction,” he says.
Last Updated February 2008
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