Dubai Blood Donation Centre organizes blood donation drives.

United Arab Emirates, Dubai, November 24, 2013: The Dubai Blood Donation Centre recently organized three blood donation drives.

The blood donation drives took place at Dubai GEM private School,  Manipal University and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority(DEWA).

Dr Laila Al Shaer, Director of the Dubai Blood Donation Centre, thanked students and employees of these organizations for taking part in the blood donation drive.

She said more than 500 blood donations were collected during the past month through these three drives.

Al Shaer said that the of the total blood collected in UAE, the centre collects 50 per cent, which is substantial amount and  is possible because of the dedication of the community members.  She said 45 per cent of this blood is used for Thalassemia patients and 27 per cent is used for Trauma patients. 

Al Shaer said, “At the centre, we carry out more than 300 campaigns in a year to collect blood through donation drives and we visit various governmental organizations, private sector groups etc. We have recently introduced our mobile blood donation unit, which has helped us double the blood collection at every drive."

Al Shaer said in 2010, the centre was able to collect 32,808 units of blood, the highest collection as compared to other blood banks across the UAE.  Of this, 22 581 units of blood was collected through the 357 campaigns held in 2010. The remaining, 10,227 units of blood were collected at the centre.

Nadia Kalantar, head of marketing and blood donor recruitment unit at the Dubai Blood Donation Centre said: “If a group of individuals are interested in blood donation, a  mobile blood donation unit  can be sent to their office and at one time a maximum of 60 blood donations are collected. Alternatively, a team from the blood donation centre can set up a mobile collection unit in their office and 100 blood donations can be collected at one time. We request those who are interested in this humanitarian initiative to contact the centre.”
 
The DHA blood donation centre is located in the premises of Latifa Hospital and individuals interested in donating blood may contact the centre at 04 2193221 or alternately they may contact  the DHA toll free number 800 342.