Paola Andrea Fernandez de Soto Abdul-Rahim, a board member of ImmUnity Canada, host of the Slice of PI podcast, and mother of Jakob, Little Fighter, delivered a powerful statement during the Canadian Blood Services (CBS) open board meeting on June 16th. She voiced her support for bolstering Canada’s domestic plasma and immunoglobulin (IG) supply, and lauded CBS’s ongoing endeavors to achieve 50% sufficiency through both their own plasma donation center network, as well as through private and public partnerships.
In addition to acknowledging CBS’s commendable efforts in maintaining the domestic supply of plasma, Fernandez de Soto Abdul-Rahim emphasized the crucial work undertaken by ImmUnity Canada to advocate for patients with primary immunodeficiencies; who rely on plasma products for life-sustaining treatments. For these individuals, uninterrupted access to immunoglobulin is an indispensable process.
ImmUnity Canada remains committed to advocating for patients with primary immunodeficiencies and contributing to Canada’s domestic plasma and IG supply, showcasing the nation’s potential to serve as a global leader in healthcare initiatives.
Fernandez de Soto Abdul-Rahim’s statement resonated with attendees, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and unity in addressing critical healthcare needs.
The entire board meeting, including Andrea’s statement on behalf of ImmUnity Canada, can be viewed on the Canadian Blood Services website. Fernandez de Soto Abdul-Rahim’s presentation can be found at the 2:32:40 mark, offering a comprehensive insight into the organization’s unwavering dedication to improving healthcare outcomes.