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The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), the Number One Bank in the UAE, organises its eighth annual blood donation drive in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, and Sharjah.
The Blood Donation Drives are part of NBAD’s Sustainability strategy and they will take place on 14, 15, 16, 20, 22, and 23 February. NBAD combines forces with Abu Dhabi Blood Bank, which operates under Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), a SEHA Healthsystem Facility, and the Ministry of Health Department of Blood Transfusion & Research Services to conduct the blood drives.
The 14 February event is solely for NBAD Staff at the Bank’s Head Office and Khalidiya Branches. The mobile blood collection centre will set up to receive members of the public on 15 and 16 February. Donors can come and register right in front of One NBAD Tower, the Bank’s Head Office on Khalifa Street. On 20 February, the Blood Drive will move to NBAD Deira Branch in Dubai and then to NBAD Al Ain Clock Tower Branch on 22nd and NBAD Sharjah Branch on 23rd. The collection point will be set up outside the branches for both staff and members of the public to donate.
Since NBAD began the annual blood drives in 2004, the number of blood donors has continuously increased every year both amongst NBAD staff and community members who generously give the most valuable “gift of life.” From 77 donors in 2006 to 335 in 2008 and from 453 in 2009 to 845 in 2011 the numbers keep getting better and better.
“Hosting blood drives is an integral part of supporting our community,” said Belinda Scott, Senior Manager Corporate Sustainability at NBAD. “Every year we review the results and consider the bigger picture of employee and community health and what influence we have in these areas,” she continues. “We are very proud of the donors from NBAD family and the community, specifically those who generously participate and donate at the drives every year. Their support reflects an increase in public awareness about the importance of donating blood, and confirms their commitment to save lives.”
“Every drop of blood counts. Each unit of blood, can help in the treatment of 3 patients: one with red cells for anaemia, one for bleeding with the platelets and the last with the plasma for different pathologies which need coagulation factors,” explains Dr. Naima Oumeziane, Medical Head of Abu Dhabi Blood Bank of SKMC. “In 2009, NBAD’s blood campaign just in Abu Dhabi city collected 388 units or 18.4% of the total collections in the month of February. In February 2010, NBAD’s campaign collected 415 units or 17.8% of the total collected for the same month. While, In February 2011 NBAD Blood Drive collected 610 units or 27.1 % of the total collections in the month of February.
On average, the Abu Dhabi Blood Bank organises seven blood donation drives weekly in cooperation with different organisations in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Universities also cooperate with the Blood Bank to organise blood donation drives for students; shopping malls for visitors; and companies for staff. The blood collected through the Blood Bank in campaigns or in its campus covers the needs of public and private hospitals in Abu Dhabi as well as other Emirates. Blood transfusions often are needed for trauma victims due to accidents and burns, heart surgery, organ transplants, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or other diseases, such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia.
The Abu Dhabi Blood Bank medical staff performs tests on blood donors for hemoglobin, blood pressure and blood type. The blood collection process takes approximately 10-20 minutes per donor while the entire process from the time volunteers register and begin the screening until they leave took approximately 45 minutes to an hour. Volunteers provide nearly all the nation’s blood supply for transfusion; there is no substitute for human blood and eligible blood donors can donate blood 3-4 times a year safely.
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