Citizens and residents of Qatar are being encouraged to donate blood this Ramadan. Giving blood is safe and hygienic with the HMC guidelines infection control practices in place at Hamad Medical Corporation’s both Blood Donor Centers and two Ramadan mobile units (at Souq Waqif and Msheireb Downtown).

One out of every 10 patients admitted to hospitals may be in urgent need of a transfusion of blood or blood products, and there are many patients whose lives depend on blood and blood products transfusions. The unit of blood donated may benefit at least three patients if used as separate blood components.

Patients who might benefit from the donation are many, including victims of road accidents, victims of other accidents and burns, patients with different types of cancers, patients with a blood disease or bleeding problems, pregnant or post-delivery mothers, and many others.

“Modestly, giving blood saves lives. The blood you give is a lifeline to many patients in an emergency and for people who need long-term treatment, for example, cancer patients. We need new donors from all backgrounds to ensure there is the right and safe blood available for patients who need it,”

Chairperson of the HMC Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Dr. Einas Al Kuwari, has said.

“This Ramadan, you can make a real difference to someone’s life. We do advise people who are fasting to wait after Iftar to donate blood and people who are not fasting can donate between 8 am to 1 pm. We can also assure all member of the public that giving blood is safe and they should have no concerns about donating. Our teams at Qatar Blood Services have stepped up precautionary measures to ensure that every blood donation is safe during the pandemic. This includes asking all donors to show the Ehteraz application and a checkup and triage – checking body temperature, asking about recent travel history, as well as regular cleaning and stringent disinfection of all surfaces and equipment. COVID-19 tests are not required for donors to donate blood.”

Following are the timings of the Blood Donor Centers and mobile units:

• The Blood Donor Center next to Hamad General Hospital is open Sunday to Thursday from 8 am to 1 pm and 6 pm to 12 am, Saturdays 7 pm to 12 am. It is closed on Fridays.
• The New Blood Donor Center opposite Outpatient Department next to the Surgical Specialty Center is open from 6 pm to 12 midnight, Sunday to Thursday, Saturdays 7 pm to 12 am and closed on Fridays.
• The Souq Waqif mobile unit and the Msherieb mobile unit are both open Sunday to Saturday (including Friday) from 8 pm to 12 am.

To be able to donate blood:

• A donor must be a healthy adult, not less than 18 years of age, with no significant chronic illness or previous infections.
• The donor’s body weight must not be less than 50kg and haemoglobin level of not less than 13g/dl for male and 12.5g/dl for female.
• On the day of the donation, the donor must be free of symptoms from fever and coughs or any other infection, and he must have adequate hours of sleep.
• Those who have taken the COVID-19 vaccination can donate three days after the shot and only if they are free of symptoms such as fever or any other infections.
• Individuals who are recovered from COVID-19 should wait at least three months after symptoms have subsided to donate blood.
• As per World Health Organization guidelines, anyone who has travelled recently must wait 28 days after their return to Qatar to donate.

For more information about blood donation in Qatar, please go to www.hamad.qa/qbs

Source and cover image credit: HMC

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Binu Cherian

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