In collaboration with HMC, the Awqaf Ministry has launched a mobile blood donation unit

In collaboration with HMC, the Awqaf Ministry has launched a mobile blood donation unit

The Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs' General Directorate of Endowments inaugurated Monday the car of the mobile blood donation unit with a total cost of QR 2.5 million funded by the Waqf Bank for Healthcare.

Director General of General Directorate of Endowments Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed bin Ghanim Al-Thani and Acting Assistant Managing Director and Head of specialized Hospitals at Hamad Medical Corporation Ali Al Janahi attended the launch of the service.

Sheikh Dr. Khalid Al-Thani expressed happiness with the continued development in societal partnership with the HMC which copes with the preconditions of those in charge of the endowments and the ministry's logo of "Endowments as a Societal Partnership". He also hailed the service as a world-class integrated clinic to bolster the healthcare services provided by the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) for nationals and residents.

Sheikh Dr. Khalid added that the 80-square meter mobile phlebotomist works effectively in blood sample collecting and organizing field campaigns in cooperation with the HMC Blood Donor Center. He praised the highly qualified technical, nursing, medical and administrative staff as well as assisting services provided for urgent and critical cases.

He noted that the phlebotomist was designed by HMC according to world-class technical standards and criteria of safety and security, particularly the ease of transport and adaptation to various climate circumstances.

He also hailed the outer and interior aesthetic designs that provided privacy and comfort for all donors.

The body of the phlebotomist expands to give a wider interior space for attracting further blood donors and providing further comfort for the medical staff and donors alike, he said, adding the design took into consideration those with special disabilities through wheelchair ramps.

He pointed out that the phlebotomist is equipped with special rooms for receiving and testing donors, pre-donation blood screening, drawing blood samples, as well as a post-donation observation room where donors can have a light snack and checked for safety and a room specialized for the supervising physicians.

He added that the blood sample collection room, which absorbs up to six donors simultaneously with full privacy, followed the most advanced technologies regarding blood drawing and screening as well as blood bank refrigerators to ensure safety before transforming blood samples into blood donation laboratories.

For his part, HMC's Acting Assistant Managing Director and Chief of Tertiary Hospitals Group Ali Al Janahi hailed the effective societal partnership with the General Directorate of Endowments (Awqaf), adding that the mobile blood donation unit will perform a vital role in strengthening HMC's efforts dedicated to securing ample blood supplies before and during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 tournament, clarifying that the unit, whose length is 16 meter, is eco-friendly and is equipped with solar energy units that are capable of generating electricity from an energy source or direct power generators, pointing out that HMC has launched two additional vehicles to support blood donation in the community, in addition to the mobile units offered by Minister of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, represented by Awqaf, noting that the mobile units are an integral part of the two blood donation units in Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City, which is located in adjacent to HMC's Surgical Specialty Center.

He underlined that the voluntary blood donation process fulfills the requirements of the state of Qatar and is considered the highest rate in the region, notwithstanding Qatar has doubled its efforts pertaining to blood donation to ensure the obtainment of ample blood supplies for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 tournament, pointing out that blood donation service -that secures the obtainment of sufficient quantity of safe blood for patients- is a core element to achieve an effective health system, as the new unit will primarily enable the access to substantial numbers of individuals, in addition to strengthening their efforts to ensure obtainment of ample blood supplies that fulfill the current and future requirements.

To be a blood donator entails that you offer an incredible gift to save and protect individuals' life when required since the voluntary blood donation grants the patients an opportunity to survive and live for a longer time, he said, adding that the new mobile units will add a great value for the efforts related to blood services in the State of Qatar.

In addition, Waqf Bank for Healthcare is one of the six endowment banks at the General Administration of Endowments that was established based on the historic role played by the health endowments, therefore, the department did not overlook the health dimension of its activity since the promotion of health services in communities is considered the standard of evolution and development, and Waqf Bank is deemed as one of the societal participation images and support for this vital sector through several methods, including provision of care for the needful low -income patients to further obtain adequate medical treatment for them and cooperation with the competent authorities to create joint health programs, in addition to holding the educational training sessions in the health sector, as well as operationalizing the diverse Media means to disseminate health culture among the community's individuals.

Source: QNA