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Blood donation drives to meet shortage

In the light of scarcity of blood, companies, schools and other institutions in the region are organising blood donation drives.

As part of their corporate social responsibility, Dunia Finance, an Abu Dhabi based financial services company, recently organised a three-day blood donation drive across its branches in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

“Dunia strongly believes in giving back to the community,” said Gillian Green, an employee. “We work closely with two blood banks, Shaikh Khalifa blood bank in Abu Dhabi and Al Wasl Hospital in Dubai. Largely, the blood goes to government hospitals.”

Over 200 people contributed in the drive, including a large percentage of customers, employees as well as donors from across the UAE. During the drive, 90,900ml of blood was collected, which in total constitutes to 1,010 lives being saved, according to estimates made by the Al Wasl Blood Donation Centre.

People have been encouraged to donate blood when the National Bank of Abu Dhabi’s (NBAD) annual blood drive begins next week.

The Blood Donation Drive, which will take place on February 13, 15, 16 and 24, is part of NBAD’s sustainability strategy in co-ordination with the Shaikh Khalifa Medical City’s Abu Dhabi Blood Bank and the Ministry of Health’s Department of Blood Transfusion and Research Services.

The February 13 drive will be dedicated to NBAD staff at the bank’s head office and Khalidiya branch.

The mobile blood collection centre, meanwhile, will receive the public on February 15 and 16. Donors can register the NBAD’s head office on Khalifa Street.

On February 24 the NBAD Blood Drive will move to NBAD Deira branch in Dubai where a collection point will be set-up outside the branch for both staff and members of the public to donate.

“Our aim is to encourage our staff and the community to contribute towards replenishing the nation’s stocks of blood,” said Belinda Scott, senior manager Corporate Sustainability at NBAD.

In February 2010, NBAD’s blood campaign collected 415 units or 17.8 per cent of the total collected for the month.

“With one unit of blood, we can help in the treatment of three patients — one with red cells for anaemia, one for bleeding with the platelets and the other one with the plasma for different pathologies which need coagulation factors,” said Dr Naima Oumeziane, medical head of the Abu Dhabi Blood Bank.

“There is a huge demand for blood and the daily requirement is about 200 units of blood,” said Dr Laila Al Shaer, Head of Dubai Blood Donation Centre-Pathology and Genetics Department.

“The blood collected goes not only to the government but to the private hospitals, as well,” said Noemi Sebial, nurse at the Al Wasl Hospital. The blood donation centre is open from 7am to 7pm but still in order to compensate for the needs we conduct sessions outside.”

Schools like Al Diyafah High School, Dubai also recently organised its first Blood Donation Camp with the Dubai Blood Donation Centre at Al Wasl
 Hospital.

“Our students proposed that we do a blood donation drive so we organised it and the response was good,” said Mahesh Sajnani, Community Outreach Co-ordinator. “Sixty five people including parents, students and staff donated blood.”

Since 1996, Dubai Municipality has been a strong advocate for this cause and conducts blood donation camps every year.Yousuf Murad Salmeen, Head of Public Relations Section and Acting Director of Corporate Marketing and Relations Department said, “Ever since we organised our first blood donation drive for two days in 1996 we have been receiving huge response from our employees.”

The blood collection process takes approximately 10 to 20 minutes per donor. The entire process from the time volunteers register and begin the screening until they leave takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour.

(With inputs from Abu Dhabi 
Bureau). — news@khaleejtimes.com