Abu Dhabi Blood Bank Organizes an Appreciation Ceremony for the Blood Donors on the World Blood Donor Day -14 June 2009

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Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) managed by Cleveland Clinic celebrates the “World Blood Donor Day 2009” on Sunday 14 June 2009. SKMC is owned and operated by SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
 
On this special occasion, the Abu Dhabi Blood Bank (ADBB) organizes a special ceremony to acknowledge all their regular blood donors and corporate organizations in the ADBB Building today. The management of SKMC will honor 25 regular blood donors and the top 15 organizations that have supported the ADBB and organized donation drives for their employees during the past 5 years. 
 
World Blood Donor Day is an international health awareness event celebrated annually on the 14^th of June to support national blood donor programs in building a stable base of voluntary unpaid donors who make a long term commitment to blood donation.
 
The Abu Dhabi Blood Bank (ADBB), the major donor center and blood bank in Abu Dhabi is part of the Transfusion Medicine Services division of the Department of Laboratory Medicine at SKMC. It provides blood supply that covers the needs of governmental and private hospitals in Abu Dhabi and provides support to other Emirates. 
 
Dr. Laila O. Abdel Wareth, Chair of Laboratory Medicine at SKMC said “during the World Blood Donor Day, we would like to encourage voluntary, non - remunerated blood donation which contributes in saving lives. By donating regularly, the donors help us maintain an adequate supply on hand and we encourage their continued support. Millions of people owe their lives to people they will never meet. We would like to recognize those people today and thank them for their deeds”.
 
“Some of our patients who benefit from blood donation are also invited to the event. We have three thalassemic patients who will also give speeches to thank the blood donors for their humanity donation of blood.”
 
Dr. Naima Oumeziane, head of the ADBB commented “Amongst our top 25 blood donors, some of them have been donating blood regularly for the past 20 years. They used to visit us for donation 3 – 5 times a year in an average”.
 
“During the first five months of 2009, the ADBB collected 10700 units of blood and 300 units of Apheresis Platelets. UAE Nationals who represent 15.1 % of all donors comprise the largest number of donors amongst the many different nationalities that give blood each year”, Dr. Oumeziane added.
 
Dr. Maria Araneta, head of Transfusion Medicine Services at SKMC mentioned that voluntary blood donors are the foundation of safe blood supply because they are associated with significantly lower levels of infections that can be transmitted by transfusion. Testing and screening is important, however, the safest donations come from volunteer donors. She revealed SKMC’s plan to convert to 100% voluntary donations in the near future.

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