Doha: Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Qatar Blood Services operates four sites during the holy month of Ramadan, including two mobile units in Souq Waqif and Msheireb Downtown.
In the present COVID-19 situation it has been ensured that donors can safely donate blood and recruit more donors.
A social media campaign under the slogan “Qatar ... It’s in Our Blood” has urged citizens and residents to become regular blood donors to make a difference in someone’s life by donating blood.
“It’s more important than ever to ensure we have sufficient blood supplies. You can make a difference by becoming a blood donor by visiting one of our dedicated Blood Donor Centers,” HMC has said.
The Blood Donor Center next to Hamad General Hospital is open Saturday to Thursday from 8 am to 1 pm and 6pm to 12midnight. 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, Saturday to Thursday and closed on Fridays.
Souq Waqif mobile unit is open Sunday to Saturday (including Friday) 8 pm to 12 am. Msheireb mobile unit is open Sunday to Saturday (including Friday) 8pm to 12am.
The Center organises a number of regular blood donation campaigns every week. A mobile blood donation campaign begins during the holy month of Ramadan every year.
In light of COVID-19, even more stringent measures are in place to ensure the safety of both donors and recipients. Teams at Qatar Blood Services have stepped up precautionary measures to ensure that every blood donation is safe during the pandemic to include mandatory pre-screening before entering the blood donation sites, as well as regular cleaning and disinfection of all surfaces and equipment.
“Blood donation is a very safe procedure and adverse (effects) are very rare and even when occur they are usually very mild and post no threat to the donor. To ensure that the process of donation is safe, potential donors are very carefully assessed for suitability before they can donate and to make sure that the procedure caries no hazard to the donors,” said Sadika Al Mahmoudi, Medical Manager, Blood Donation Center in a previous interview with The Peninsula.
To be able to donate blood, a donor must be healthy, adult not less than 17 years of age, with no significant chronic illness or previous infections, with the bodyweight of not less than 50kg and hemoglobin level of not less than 13g for male and 12.5 for female. On the day of the donation, the donor must be free of symptoms of fever and coughs or any other infection and he must have adequate hours of sleep.
