360 Nautica employees donate blood on World Blood Donor Day

360 Nautica Employees

Blood Donor Day, which is internationally celebrated every year on June 14, aims to raise global awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products, for transfusion and the critical contribution of voluntary blood donor. Recently, the chairperson of Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Laboratory Medicine and Pathology department Dr. Einas Al Kuwari, expounded that people who donate blood create a vital contribution by keeping the world pulsating by saving lives and ameliorating other’s health condition. Dr. Al Kuwari said “Safe blood and blood products and their transfusion are a critical aspect of care in our healthcare system. They save lives and improve the health and quality of life of many patients every day.” To mark this significant occasion of World Donor Day, HMC and Qatar Blood Services have conducted numerous activities in the community, especially at the Blood Donor Center next to Hamad General Hospital, which has been lit up in red from June 13 until 16. Many residents of Qatar volunteer to donate blood on this day every year. This year, the media team from Qatar Day (part of 360 nautica) was proud to be a part of this initiative and donated blood. These employees of 360 nautica were welcomed by the friendly staff at the Center and were offered food, juice and water before and after the blood donation. The workers at the donor center ensured a safe environment with regards to preventive measures, which have been imposed due to the coronavirus (Covid-19). They made sure the process was smooth and efficient. Ms. Israa K., one of the employees who got vaccinated said, “I wanted to participate in the international blood donation day. I also wanted to help those who need blood in surgeries especially those who have been in accidents, and would need this blood immediately.” Another employee Ahmed Faraz said, “It was a really good experience here. So, I would request everyone to donate it. Everyone who is healthy should come forward and do their part. It is their social responsibility to do it, and they should.” After donating blood, these employees received World Blood Donor day branded goodies, including T-shirts, Hamad Medical Corporation branded bottles, caps, mugs, and more, in addition to a certificate of appreciation from HMC, which was distributed to all individuals who had donated their blood. Qatar Day urges every citizen and resident in the country to do their part by contributing their blood towards this nobel cause. Who can donate the blood? • An individual wishing to donate his or her blood must be a healthy adult over 18 years of age and must not be suffering from any chronic illness or previous infections. • The person's body weight must not be lower than 50 kg, and hemoglobin level should be over 13g/dl for males and 12.5g/dl for females. • The individual must not have any symptoms like fever, cough, or other infection, and sufficient sleep is required before donating the blood. • Those individuals who received the Covid-19 vaccination can donate three days after receiving the doses. • As per the guidelines issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), travelers who arrived in Qatar must wait up to 28 days to be eligible for donation. Timings of Donor centers and where to donate blood? • The center next to Hamad General Hospital operates from Sunday to Thursday from 8 am until 1 pm and from 6 pm until 12 am. The timings on Saturdays will be from 7 am until 12 pm, and the center will remain closed on Fridays. • The new donor center opposite to outpatient department next to the surgical specialty center operates from Sundays to Thursdays from 6 pm until 12 am. On Saturdays, the timings will be from 7 pm until 12 am and the center will remain closed on Fridays. • The mobile units at Souq Waqif and Msheireb are open every day from 8 am until 12 pm. To know more about their services, please visit HMC’s Qatar Blood Services page (www.hamad.qa/qbs) or walk-in to one of the centers and be a part of this tremendous initiative.