Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and DP World have recently launched a fully equipped blood donation bus, which aims to increase collections and provide donors with added convenience.
DP World donated the Dh1.79-million bus that will be used by the DHA-run Dubai Blood Donation Centre (DBDC) to collect blood during its mobile blood collection campaigns. His Excellency Humaid Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board and Director General of DHA, praised the initiative and said this partnership symbolised true collaboration between government entities in the emirate.
The bus will help DBDC reach out to different sections of society interested in blood donation and make it convenient for them.
“In line with the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, we are keen to undertake initiatives that serve the interest of the community in Dubai,” said His Excellency Sultan Ahmad Bin Sulayem, Chairman of DP World. “The health and rehabilitation sector is particularly important to ensure the well-being of our community and we want to contribute to develop this sector. We hope this initiative will help provide a further impetus to blood donation drives in the emirate.”
Dr May Raouf, Director of DBDC, said the state-of-the-art bus would help the centre in collecting additional 70-80 units of blood a day.
“This bus will help us collect additional units of blood, which will directly benefit those in need of blood, especially thalassaemia patients,” said Dr Raouf.
DBDC is the blood donation centre for the emirate of Dubai. It supplies blood and blood products to all private and government hospitals in the emirate. This includes more than 40 private and government hospitals in Dubai.
Last year, DBDC collected about 50,000 units of blood, making it the centre to collect the most number of blood units in the country.
Established in 1986, the centre undertakes the responsibility of ensuring safe blood for thousands of people who receive life-saving transfusions every year.
The centre is located in the premises of Latifa Hospital.
Individuals interested in donating blood may contact the centre at 04 219 3221 or the DHA toll-free number 800 342.
