Dubai: Inspired by an ongoing campaign in Sweden and other parts of Europe, the Ministry of Health and Prevention has decided to send motivational text messages to blood donors to highlight the importance of their gesture and encourage them to donate more, said Dr Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assitant undersecretary for health centres and clinics at the ministry.
As the UAE population grows and more private hospitals come up to cater to an increasing population of medical tourists, the demand for blood and blood products has been steadily growing.
In addition to this, blood plasma and blood products are in demand due to the prevalence of thalassaemia major and the high incidence of road accidents in the country.
Mona Sulaiman Al Ali, managing director of the Sharjah Blood Transfusion and Research Centre, said that in 2014 the total blood collection in UAE of all the combined blood banks was 106,000 units. The 2015 consolidated figures were yet to be released but the total blood units collected by the ministry’s largest blood bank — the Sharjah Blood Transfusion and Research Centre — was 25,000 units. “Every year the demand for blood is going up and blood donation is a voluntary exercise. We want to promote safe and sustainable health for all and the contribution of blood by community members is a very important aspect of this. We just want to extend our gratitude to them which will motivate them to donate blood always,” she added.
While a unit of blood is available free of cost during an emergency, it is priced at Dh400 per unit and a patient has to purchase it from the ministry’s blood bank. Dr Al Rand also added that the price per unit of blood was likely to go up in the near future.
SMS:
Dear Kind donor
Thank you for your generosity and donating blood.
We would like to inform you that your blood donation saves a life!
Ministry of Health and Prevention
