Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) today held its annual blood donor appreciation event to honor more than 250 individuals, companies and community groups who have supported its blood donor center within the past year.
The event was held at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort and Convention Hotel under the patronage of Her Excellency Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, the Minister of Public Health and coincides with World Blood Donor Day, which is observed worldwide on 14 June. More than 200 individual donors were honored at the event including 40 platelet donors, 20 female donors and 140 donors who donated whole blood products for patients in need.
The event also honored corporate and government supporters and sponsors of HMC’s blood donation efforts including Al Fardan Group, QatarGas, Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO), The Social and Sport Contribution Fund and Qatar National Bank. Dr. Salih Ali Al-Marri from the Ministry of Public Health said events like this shed light on the importance of blood donation. “Blood donation helps save many lives here in Qatar every year and there is always demand for blood and blood products,” he said. “This is a selfless act and it’s important that we take the time to recognize those in our community who display this generosity.”
Mr. Ali Al Janahi, Chief of Business Services at HMC said the widespread community and business support enabled the success of blood donation drives. “It is a result of widespread public support for blood donation and recognition of its importance,” Mr. Al Janahi said. “Voluntary blood donation gives patients with life-threatening diseases who are in need of a blood transfusion a chance to live longer and improve the quality of their lives.” The work of the Blood Donor Center is supported by HMC’s Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, whose efforts were also recognized at tonight’s event.
Dr. Ajayeb Al-Nabet Al-Marri, Chairperson of the Department of Laboratory, Medicine and Pathology at HMC said hundreds of donors including platelet and plasma donors as well as organizations who support the Center were recognized at the event which was held under the theme of "Blood Connects Us All”. “HMC has again met 100 percent blood sufficiency for the sixth consecutive year and we have the largest number of voluntary blood donors in the region,” Dr. Ajayeb said.
In 2015, there were more than 27,000 donations with more than 42,000 donors registered by the team either at the Center or as part of blood donation drives in the community. “We will continue to play a vital role in nurturing the culture of blood donation in the community to ensure we meet the need for blood and blood products from all the hospitals and medical facilities in Qatar,” said Dr. Ajayeb.
Categories: