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CATHERINE W GICHUKI
DOHA
HAMAD Medical Corporation (HMC), on Tuesday, honoured over 200 blood donors including individuals, national institutions, cultural and youth organisations who volunteered to donate blood and blood products throughout the year.
The volunteers were honoured ahead of the World Blood Donor Day (WBDD 2017) which is marked worldwide on June 14.
It is worth to note that the HMC's Blood Donor Center has achieved excellence for the seventh year in a row by maintaining 100 percent voluntary blood donation rate throughout the year.
Those honoured on the occasion included 144 whole blood donors, 40 whole blood and platelet donors, and 20 female donors. Thirty-eight mobile awareness campaign organisers representing various national, cultural and youth organisations were also honoured.
HMC's Blood Donor Center Manager, Siddiqa Ismail al Mahmoudi, said the number of voluntary blood donors reached 26,962 in 2016. Additionally, throughout the year, 361 blood donation campaigns were hosted by corporate entities and organisations.
"The annual event is meant to express gratitude to donors who voluntarily give the gift of blood for no reason other than saving lives. It is also intended to boost awareness of safe blood and blood products and to shed light on the importance of blood donation as a life-saving solution for patients with life-threatening ailments," she said.
She reiterated that the culture of blood donation is now deeply rooted in Qatar as the country stopped the importation of blood in 1987 and has maintained 100 percent blood sufficiency for seven years in a row.
She added that the Blood Donor Center and Corporate Communications Department have begun to activate the objectives and theme of the WBDD within the Qatari community.
Chairperson of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Dr Ajayeb al Nabet said,"The annual WBDD is an opportunity to thank donors as well as to raise awareness about the importance of voluntary blood donations. We are very grateful to all our donors, both individuals and corporate organisations for their continuous support year on year."
In a statement, Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al Kuwari said,"A blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system. Ensuring safe and sufficient blood supplies requires the development of a nationally coordinated blood transfusion service based on voluntary blood donations."
During the event a promotional and documentary film on the culture of blood donation entitled 'Knights of Giving' featuring the vision and objectives of the Blood Donation Center was screened. The film is expected to be broadcast on national TV and radio channels in Qatar as well as regionally and globally.
The sponsors including the platinum sponsor Social and Sports Activities Support Fund (Daam) and gold sponsor QatarGas, in addition to two silver sponsors including Qatar Petrochemical Company (Qapco) and Al Muftah Group, were also recognised for financing the blood donor recognition ceremony.
This year's WBDD campaign is themed, 'What can you do? Give blood. Give now. Give often'.
