The Ministry of Health (MoH) has confirmed its support for the ‘My Blood for My Country’ initiative held annually to collect blood donations, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Chairman of the Executive Council.

Dr. Hussein Abdel-Rahman Al Rand, Undersecretary of the Ministry’s Health Assistant Sector- Health Centers and Clinics, said that the initiative “is an important humanitarian effort as it provides blood to victims of accidents, patients, and those suffering from cancer."

He added: “The Ministry actively supports the initiative, and encourages citizens and residents to contribute to saving hospital patients by donating blood through the program at the blood donation center in Sharjah which will be open for donations throughout the year.”

The Ministry of Health hosted the third leg of the ‘My Blood for My Country’ initiative yesterday (day, date, 2015) in cooperation with Al Emarat Alyoum, Al Ameen Service-Dubai Police and Dubai Health Authority, following the initial stages with the Dubai Media Corporation and the RTA.

The Mobile Blood Bank dispatched by the program visited the Ministry's headquarters in Dubai and received a large amount of blood donations following the wide participation of Ministry staff. The group was led by Dr. Al Rand, who emphasized the importance of “supporting such initiatives that safeguard the well-being of society and the eagerness of the staff to save patients, especially invalids suffering from thalassemia who could greatly benefit from the blood donation.”

Dr. Youssif Al Serkal, Assistant Undersecretary for Hospitals Sector, MoH, said that the Ministry is eager to support the initiative as it provides a great charitable service. He added that the Ministry encouraged staff members from all sectors and departments to donate blood through the program.

He added: “We asked the staff who did not have the opportunity to donate through the program’s mobile blood bank, to donate through affiliated health institutions or through the center located at the Global Village next month.”

Dr. Al Serkal praised the objectives of the campaign, pointing out that “there are patients that desperately need blood to save their lives and speed up the treatment of serious health complications.”

The Media Office Al Ameen Service - Dubai Police said that the organizing committee for the ‘My Blood for My Country’ initiative aimed to visit institutions, government departments and ministries to raise awareness among staff on the importance of blood donation, and address the urgent need for blood units which are crucial to saving the lives of patients and victims of road accidents.

The Bureau affirmed the initiative’s success and that the Mobile Blood Bank was able to collect large amounts of blood as a result of the donations of staff from the Ministry, Dubai Media, and the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai. 

Al Ameen Service office noted that the Mobile Blood Bank will continue touring throughout the month until December 1, 2015 and will culminate with the opening a blood donation center in the Global Village which will receive donations from citizens and residents for over three days in conjunction with the 44th National Day.