The campaign seeks to provide an adequate stock of different blood types
“My blood for my country” collects 8,561 blood units for patients and accident victims
The growing awareness of the community about the importance of donating blood.
Photography: Ahmed Ardeti
Dr. Hussain Al-Samt: “One unit of blood can save three lives.”
picture
The Dubai Health Authority revealed that the "My Blood for My Country" campaign has succeeded in collecting 8,561 blood units, since the launch of its tenth session last June, from which 3,444 plasma units were extracted, which were used to treat patients with bleeding, accidents and burns, and those who suffer from low blood volume.
The Director of the Department of Laboratories and Genetics at the Dubai Health Authority, Dr. Hussein Al-Samt, told "Emirates Today" that the number of participants in the tenth session of the campaign amounted to 9,659 donors, while the number of blood drawn units reached 8,561 blood units, of which 3,444 plasma units were extracted.
He stated that according to the authority's statistics, 80% of the donors are in the age group between 25 and 45 years, and the campaign also witnessed donors in the lower and older age groups after fulfilling the required conditions.
He pointed out that 36 government agencies participated in the campaign, after prior coordination, and the authority completed a large number of them, while the visit dates were scheduled for other parties wishing to participate during the coming period.
Al-Samt stressed that the campaign continues to implement external campaigns targeting governmental and private institutions, in addition to distributing mobile donation buses in different regions, with the aim of collecting the largest possible number of blood units and providing an adequate stock of blood of all types.
He added that a single blood unit can save the lives of three people, whose health condition requires a blood transfusion, calling on community members, citizens and residents, to participate in the campaign, to provide the largest amount of blood, to save lives.
He pointed out that the annual increase in the quantities of blood collected by the center is due to the growing community awareness of the importance of donating blood.
The "My Blood for My Country" campaign is implemented in a strategic partnership and fruitful cooperation between "Emirates Today", "Al-Amin" service and the Dubai Health Authority.
The "My Blood for My Country" campaign was launched in its first session in 2012, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council.
His Highness was the first to donate blood at the moment of the campaign’s launch, which contributed to its success and encouraged community members to participate in it, especially after His Highness emphasized the importance of the initiative, saying that “blood donation is the best gift that a citizen and resident can give, as an expression of love for the homeland, especially since there is Sick and wounded need every drop of blood.”
Support blood stock
The Director of the Dubai Blood Donation Center, Dr. Mai Raouf, stated that Emirati women played a major role in supporting the center's blood supply, as the percentage of Emirati women donors for whole blood units reached 74%, and the number of female donors reached 3112.
The authority's statistics indicate that 57% of the female donors are in the age group between 18 and 35 years, and 38% of them are in the age group between 36 and 55 years, while it is 5% in the category between 56 and 65 years.
The authority stated that Emirati women have enhanced their blood stock of all types, as their percentage according to blood type reached: 27% of blood type O +, and 3% of blood type O-, while 12% provided blood type B +, compared to 1% of blood type B-, and 11% of them provided A+ type, 1% donated A- type, and 2% donated AB+ type.
36 government agencies participate in the "My blood is for my country" campaign.
Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news