By Noimot Olayiwola/Staff Reporter

More than 300 voluntary blood donors were yesterday recognised by the Hamad Medical Corporation for giving the gift of life during last year.
The donors were each awarded a certificate and gift during a ceremony held under the patronage of the Minister of Health and Supreme Council of Health Secretary General HE Abdullah bin Khalid al-Qahtani, who graced the occasion alongside HMC managing director Dr Hanan al-Kuwari and other top officials.
The recognition event coincided with the 10th Anniversary of World Blood Donor Day, being observed every June 14 worldwide.
Through the contribution of voluntary donors, comprising individuals, companies and community groups, Qatar has maintained 100% blood sufficiency throughout the last three years, making the country be the one with the largest voluntary blood donations in the region.
As of December 2012, the total number of voluntary donors in Qatar was 22,504 including 21,973 males and 531 females.
A total of 303 field blood donation campaigns were conducted and there were 432 voluntary donors of platelets.   
Among the donors in 2012 were 4,080 Qataris and 18,420 expatriates while 4,056 and 3,864 Qataris donated blood and platelets in 2011 and 2010 respectively.
Expatriate donors for 2010 and 2011 were 13,457 and 15,264 respectively.
At the event, 20 female donors were recognised as well as 225 regular donors of platelets, seven of whom were specially recognised as the most distinguished donors of blood and platelets.
First among the top seven donors is a Qatari Mohamed Hassan Ali Mohamed, who is an employee of Qatar Petroleum and also a famous actor on Qatar Television.
Mohamed said he started donating blood when he was 16 years and as a student.
“I first donated blood in 1986 when I was a student and I started coming back to the blood bank to donate every two months,” he told journalists.
The Qatari said he was moved by dearth of blood supply at the time when Qatar was importing blood.
“I decided to start donating my blood in order to assist the country increase its blood sufficiency and also to ensure that we have very pure blood available locally and stop importing as some of the imported blood could either be contaminated or infected by a virus such as human immuno-deficiency virus (Hiv) and could caused some people to contract the virus,” he rued.
Seeing the fruits of his noble act, Mohamed said he will continue to donate blood, and even some other organs, for as long as he is able and alive.
“I thank God, I am fit and healthy. I am now a grandfather and I will continue to donate and wish many people can also come forward and join in this act of giving gifts of life,” he added.
Other top six donors were Abdul Nassr Saleem Mohamed, who donated 144 units, Ali Jasim al-Malki (135), Saed Awni Said al-Ghoul (99), Mousa Mohamed Mousa Asraf (85) , Nader Nessim Aziz Saleh (52) and Zuhair Mohamed Azia Saleh (63).
During the blood donor recognition ceremony, some 38 organisations including ministries, public organisations as well as cultural, social and youth groups who organised blood donation drives were also recognised at the event.  
Sponsors for the 2013 gala event included Barwa Real Estate Company, Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Petrochemical  (Qapco) and Qatar Energy.
World Blood Donor day serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.
With the slogan “Give the gift of life: donate blood”, this year’s campaign, the 10th anniversary of World Blood Donor Day, focused on the value of donated blood to the patient, not only in saving life, but also in helping people live longer and more productive lives.