JEDDAH, 13 February 2007 — Dallah Albaraka Holding Co. has launched a monthlong blood donation campaign in Jeddah following the Arab and Gulf blood transfusion conference held in Riyadh recently.
Dallah has organized the campaign together with the King Fahd Hospital in Jeddah. Hundreds of the group’s employees are expected to participate in the campaign and a special clinic has been set on the 10th floor of the Dallah Tower to process donors. The King Fahd Hospital is organizing the technical and medical aspects of the campaign.
Also participating are various companies including the Halwani Brothers, ART and subsidiaries of the Dallah group.
Medical experts dispelled fears that members of the public may have concerning blood donation. Experts stressed that the donation of blood does not involve any risk and that the body replenishes lost blood in a matter of hours.
Only 400 ml to 500 ml, which is 1/12 of the total blood in a person’s body, is taken at a time. All equipment used for the purpose are sterilized and will not be reused.
Donors have to undergo a brief medical checkup before being able to donate blood. Most donors can continue their normal activities shortly after the donation and donors seldom experience nausea or dizziness, which disappears after a short time.
The actual time required for the donation is between 8 to 10 minutes. There are certain factors that doctors take into consideration before accepting blood from a donor. This includes checking the body weight, blood pressure and hemoglobin level.
Donors are also required to complete a form supplying personal details and answer questions to ensure transfusions are safe for both the donor and the person receiving.
Prospective donors need to be between 18 and 60 years of age and weigh no less than 50 kg. Donors should not suffer from any disease. Pregnant or menstruating women are also ineligible to donate blood.
