PEOPLE of all faiths are being urged to take part in the country’s biggest blood donation campaign which is held every year to coincide with Ashoora.
Invitations to Bahrain’s societies, associations, churches and temples have been sent by the Naim Charity Society which has been organising the Imam Hussain Blood Donation Campaign since 2000.
The campaign is in its 25th edition and this year’s slogan, “Hussain … A Candle Never Fading”, is the same one used for the inaugural drive.
It is being held in partnership with the Health Ministry’s Blood Bank.
“Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Baha’is and others from diverse religions and faiths have been invited,” said society board of trustees chairman Hameed Rahma.
“Also, community societies and associations have been urged to take part,” he added.
“It is because of their involvement, contributions and co-operation that we are here in our 25th edition.
“Even if we can’t have everyone donating blood due to restrictions on the number of bags of blood we can collect, their presence is highly appreciated and means a lot to us.”
The blood donation campaign for women will be held on Thursday from 4pm until 9pm, and for men, it will be the following day from 1pm to 10pm at Al Naim Youth Centre.
Meanwhile, campaign head Dr Fadhel Al Nasheet said the ministry has agreed to provide 300 bags for women and 600 bags for men.
“We have started online registration, but as usual the appointments are fully booked, and many more show up on the day,” he said.
“Even if those showing up can’t donate blood, registered or not, invited or not, they won’t go empty-handed, without a commemorative gift, as if they have actually donated blood.
“This also doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t be called up to donate at the Blood Bank later on.”
Dr Al Nasheet added that 15,466 healthy bags have been collected over the years during the campaign.
“Ours is the only campaign that was never stopped or suspended, even during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Numbers were limited, but our engine continued running,” he said.
“This year we have been given full capacity and hopefully we will fill all of the bags, if not more.”
Bahrain Society for Sickle Cell Anaemia Patient Care officials will be present to explain the importance of donating blood. Gifts and souvenirs will also be handed out to those registering and donating at the venue.
The GDN reported earlier this month that the Healthy Ministry is promoting blood donation campaigns alongside the genome project and the organ transplant programme during Ashoora.
A national genome centre was set up in Bahrain in 2019 to gather 50,000 gene samples by 2023 as part of efforts to diagnose hereditary diseases.
For further information, visit www.hussainbloodbank.org, @IHBDC on Instagram and Twitter and IHBDC.Bahrain on Facebook.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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