(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Qatar yesterday joined countries worldwide to observe World Blood Donors Day.
This year, World Health Organisation (WHO) has themed the day as 'Thank you for saving my life', praising people who save lives every day through blood donations.
Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) Department of Laboratory and Pathology Medicine and Blood Donor Unit held a ceremony in the presence of Minister of Public Health and Secretary-General of Supreme Council of Health H E Abdullah bin Khalid Al Qahtani.
A total of 24,554 males and 970 females donated blood in 2014 and 85.08 percent of them were expatriates. And 23,480 males and 840 females donated blood in 2013.
The event at St. Regis Doha also recognised over 400 donors, through which HMC aimed to honour their contributions to helping disseminate the culture of voluntary blood donation in society, and helping the blood bank increase its supply and blood components.
People who have taken part in the platelets donation drive launched for patients suffering from cancer and blood diseases at National Centre for Cancer Care and Research were also honoured.
On June 14, countries worldwide celebrate the day, with events to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and products and thank voluntary, unpaid donors for their life-saving gift.
This year's theme focuses on thanking blood donors who save lives every day through their blood donations and encouraging more people all over the world to donate blood voluntarily and regularly, under the theme 'Give freely, give often. Blood donation matters'.
The campaign also aims to highlight stories from people whose lives have been saved through blood donation, as a way of motivating regular donors to continue giving blood and people in good health who have never given blood to begin doing so.
Dr Ajayeb Al Nabet, Chairperson, Department of Laboratory and Pathology, said HMC has met 100 percent blood sufficiency for the fifth consecutive year and is receiving the largest voluntary blood donation in the region.
Also recognised at the event were official sponsors of the event, including Qatar Chemical Company (platinum sponsor); Al Fardan Holding Group and Qatar Gas (gold sponsors); Qatar Electricity and Water Company, Qatar Steel Company, Al Darwish United Company and Qatar Petrochemical Company (silver sponsors).
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