Dubai: Aster DM health care together with government-authorised blood banks is encouraging communities to to donate blood, and support the ‘Drop of Hope’ initiative. In line with the ‘Year of Giving’, and as part of the Aster @30 anniversary celebrations’ Aster Volunteers programme, the company is committed to facilitating 30,000 units of blood donations across the GCC, India and Philippines. All blood banks need to constantly replenish their stocks to avoid the risk of shortage as the shelf life of blood is not more than six weeks. The requirement of blood is imperative in certain diseases like thalassaemia, haemophilia, and in medical procedures like heart surgery, organ transplants and cancer.