Dubai: The UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has announced dates for its blood donation drive from January 3, 2021 to January 8, 2021. The Ministry regularly conducts blood donation campaigns and encourages residents who fit the criteria for healthy blood donors to come forward and support their efforts to build a healthy society.
If you would like to participate in the blood donation campaign, these are the locations where the mobile campaign will be organised through the week.
Places where you can go to donate blood
Nesto Butina, Sharjah
Sunday, January 3, 2021
5pm to 10pm
Fujairah Hospital – Next to Golf Market, Fujairah
Monday, January 4, 2021
4.30pm to 9.30pm
Al Rolla Road – Next to Juice World, Sharjah
Monday, January 4, 2021
5pm to 10pm
Ajman Marina
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
5pm to 10pm
New Sharjah Corniche, Sharjah
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
5pm to 10pm
Sevanam Group, Al Musallah Area, Sharjah
Thursday, January 7, 2021
5pm to 10pm
Dibba Hospital – Next to Lulu Hypermarket, Fujairah
Friday, January 8, 2021
4.30pm to 9.30pm
Fujairah Hospital, Lulu Mall, Fujairah
Friday, January 8, 2021
4.30pm to 9.30pm
Requirements to donate blood include:
- A valid UAE ID card should be brought by the donor
- The donor should be in good health and does not have any history of communicable diseases
- The age of the donor should be between 18-65 years
- The weight of the donor should not be less than 50 kg
- The hemoglobin level should not be less than 13gm in males and 12.5gm in females.
- The pulse should be 50-100 per minute.
Benefits of donating blood
According to the Ministry of Health and Prevention’s website, blood donation activates the bone marrow cells in the donor (the place where blood cells are produced), which increases their effectiveness to produce new blood cells. It has been proven that each time you donate blood, you get rid of the excess iron in the body, which - if high - can increase the risk of heart diseases. High levels of iron also cause the oxidation of cholesterol leading to damage of small blood vessels.
Your blood donation on regular basis decreases the possibility of having heart attacks and strokes.
How many times can a person donate blood?
Most healthy people can donate blood every 56 days, according to MOHAP. The success of safe blood donation depends on regular voluntary donations of healthy individuals.
What should the blood donor do after donation?
The blood donor should be well-rested on the day of donation, having slept well. It is also advised that the donor should drink a good amount of water to replace the volume of fluid that he or she has donated. The donor should also avoid sports and smoking for a few hours after blood donation.
Is blood donation safe?
Blood donation doesn't expose the donor to any illness. The instruments used for the blood donation are sterilised and disposable after single use in donation.
Who is not allowed to donate?
According to the Ministry of Health and Prevention’s website, it is not advisable for a pregnant woman to donate blood. This is to ensure the safety of mother and the baby. It is also not advisable for first degree relatives to donate for their patient, to avoid some complications that can happen to the patient due to stimulation of the immune system. It is preferable to donate blood for other patients, who are not first degree relatives.
Who benefits from the donated blood?
Blood donation can be the reason to save a life in surgery or treatment of anaemia and to stop bleeding in the post-partum period. Some components prepared from blood are used in treating cancers as well as other medical and surgical uses such as bone marrow and organ transplantation.
You can read our detailed guide on blood donation campaigns in the UAE here.
