Danat Al Emarat Hospital & Abu Dhabi Blood Bank
Organize a Blood Donation Drive in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi – UAE: In line with the Year of Giving and as part of their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CRS) towards a healthy community, Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children launched a blood donation campaign in cooperation with Abu Dhabi Blood Bank, a SEHA Health System Facility, on 27 February at Abu Dhabi Blood Bank’s Bus parked at the hospital. Blood donation drives are organized to urge and encourage members of the community to donate blood as it is considered as a humanitarian duty that helps fulfil the needs of various blood components at healthcare facilities in UAE.
A number of blood donors were witnessed during the day, including healthcare professionals and clinicians from Danat Al Emarat Hospital as well as visitors, parents and members of the general public from the neighborhood who were keen to participate in the drive.
A total of 46 blood units was collected by the end of the day.
Mr. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, CEO & Managing Director of United Eastern Medical Services (UEMedical) and Chairman of Danat Al Emarat Hospital stressed on the importance of initiating such campaigns throughout the year encouraging the general public to donate and help save lives. “Many of our physicians, nurses, clinicians and administration members have participated at the blood drive which is considered a humanitarian initiative. As 2017 is the year of giving, our group will work on multiple campaigns with the Blood Bank throughout our different healthcare facilities,” Mr. Al Shorafa added.
Ms. Vino Nallaya, CEO of Danat Al Emarat Hospital said, “The Blood Bank of Abu Dhabi has provided us with all the requirements and were very cooperative. Information about the campaign was communicated to our staff, visitors and community members to help the campaign succeed and encourage more donors to take part. As a healthcare facility, it is our role to help promote the importance of blood donation and the fact that it saves lives; and to make sure that the community is aware of the cultural and humanitarian goals of such an act.”
Dr. Naima Oumeziane, Medical Head of Abu Dhabi Blood Bank praised the efforts of the Abu Dhabi Blood Bank team for organizing the event and thanked Danat Al Emarat Hospital for hosting and organizing this blood donation campaign at its campus to facilitate the donation drive in the neighborhood as well as guests visiting the hospital.
She further added, “The blood collected through the Blood Bank in such campaigns or in its campus covers the needs of governmental and private hospitals in Abu Dhabi as well as other Emirates. Blood units are processed by a series of tests as well as the separation of blood components using latest technology to meet the different needs and requirements of the patients. Blood transfusions often are needed for trauma victims due to accidents and burns, heart surgery, organ transplants, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or other diseases, such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia.”
“Every drop of blood counts. Each unit of blood, can help in the treatment of a group of patients. Volunteers provide nearly all the nation’s blood supply for transfusion; there is no substitute for human blood. If eligible donors give blood twice a year, it would greatly help in maintaining an adequate blood supply for the country. Eligible blood donors can donate blood 3 to 4 times a year safely,” Dr. Oumeziane concluded.
