DMI signs agreement with Dubai Health Authority

The Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) to launch a blood donation campaign to educate the community about the importance of donating blood and to help foster a culture of voluntarily blood donations.

The MoU is in line with DMI's commitment to strengthen relations with government bodies and institutions as well as scientific and academic institutions in the UAE.

DMI highlighted the importance of this media campaign which is in line with the strategic objectives of the institution to service the members of the UAE society. DMI explained that the organisation will broadcast awareness messages and information highlighting the benefits of blood donation and its importance in saving lives of patients; with an aim to encourage individuals and institutions to actively take part in this humanitarian cause.

DMI said that the awareness campaign in cooperation with the DHA is in line with the strategic objectives of the organisation and the campaign falls within the scope of the framework of plans and programs of the DMI which is aimed to serve all sections of the community including patients. 

The DMI thanked the DHA for undertaking such humanitarian initiatives and said that the campaign is aimed to foster a culture of voluntary blood donations in the UAE society as per the DMI vision which is in line with the overall vision of the Dubai Strategy.

Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority, said the campaign is a humanitarian initiative and such cooperation with various DMI government entities for community-driven initiatives is as per the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

He said the campaign is aimed to encourage community members to come forward and voluntarily donate blood as well as to reach out to various segments of society and educate them about the importance of blood donation and its pivotal role in saving lives.

He highlighted that DBDC is the only and central blood donation centre for the emirate of Dubai and supplies blood to 27 private and government hospitals in Dubai.

Al Murooshid mentioned that of the total blood collected, about 40-45 per cent is used for Thalassemia patients who require regular lifelong blood donations every three to four weeks. In addition, the DBDC supplies blood to road accident and burn victims at the Trauma Centre in Rashid Hospital; to Al Wasl Hospital, mainly for patients who have maternity health complications; to Dubai hospital, mainly for patients diagnosed with cancer or scheduled for open heart operations as well as to all private health facilities within Dubai that are entitled to conduct transfusion.

Al Murooshid praised the role played by the print, broadcast and online media for disseminating such important information to the community and encouraging them to come forward and donate blood.

Al Murooshid said that last year, the DBDC was able to collect 32,808 units of blood, the highest collection as compared to other blood banks across the UAE. Of this, 22 581 units of blood was collected through the 357 campaigns held in 2010. The remaining, 10,227 units of blood were collected at the centre.

The DHA blood donation centre is located in the premises of Al Wasl Hospital and individuals interested in donating blood may contact the centre. 

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