HMC launches Ramadan campaign for blood and organ donation

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), in collaboration with Al Faisal Without Borders Foundation (ALF), has launched its Ramadan field campaign for voluntary blood as well as organ donation.The campaign will continue throughout Ramadan and Eid holidays.The campaign was officially launched at the City Center Doha in the presence of HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, chairman of the Board of Directors ALF; Ali Abdulla al-Khater, chief communications officer, HMC; Dr Abdulla al-Ansari, HMC’s chief medical officer; Dr Yousef al-Maslamani, medical director of Hamad General Hospital and director of the Qatar Centre for Organ Transplantation; Dr Riadh Fadhil, director of the Qatar Organ Donation Centre; Nayef al-Shammari, executive director of Media Department at HMC; Dr Aisha Ibrahim al-Malki, executive director, Blood Transfusion Services at HMC, and Siddiqa al-Mahmoudi, medical director and head of the Blood Donor Recruitment Section at HMC.Present at the opening ceremony was also Abdullatif al-Yafei, general manager, ALF.The annual Ramadan campaign for voluntary blood and organ donation aims to maintain the continuity of blood donation and to ensure HMC’s blood bank has sufficient blood supplies in its strategic stock during the holy month.The campaign also aims to encourage the public to donate blood and consider giving the gift of life and registering to become organ donors and to promote a culture of organ donation in the society.Launching the organ donation campaign in the month of Ramadan is part of the national campaign carried out by Qatar Organ Donation Centre throughout the year."Al Faisal Without Borders is committed to charitable work and each year we establish a significant booth in the City Center Shopping Mall for blood and organ donation to deliver the message to citizens and residents. Our partnership with Hamad Medical Corporation confirms the community engagement of Al Faisal Without Borders and as a contribution to achieve Qatar Vision 2030," said Sheikh Faisal.Al-Khater, noted: "The continued success achieved every year by the blood and organ donation campaign represents the great awareness of the public to support and enrich the blood bank supplies in addition to their initiative to register themselves as organ donors when they pass away. The remarkable success is achieved by the fruitful co-operation between HMC and Al Faisal Without Borders and we would like to extend our thanks to all the supporters and we hope the campaign contributes to spread the donation culture of life’s gift whether blood or organs.”"Inquiries from the public regarding organ donation and how crucial it is to saving lives are answered by the medical team. Registration for organ donation is also facilitated for those who wish to join, and donors can receive their donor card on the spot. Booths of the national campaign for organ donation at 10 large shopping centres are: the City Center Shopping Mall, Abu Sidra Shopping Mall, Grand Mall at Asian Town, Grand Mall Mekainees, Le Vendome Mall, Ansar Gallery Barwa City, Al Rayyan, Al Matar, Safari Mall at Abu Hamour and Al Khor, Dr Fadhil explained."The blood donation team is available in the Ramadan campaign ward on the first floor of the City Center Doha from 7.30pm until midnight, and the mobile blood donation unit is also available at different locations in malls, shopping centres, and markets. The main blood donation unit in its new location is open from 6pm until midnight for blood donors,” al-Mahmoudi added.