“We want more groups to participate in blood-donation so that their contributions help the sick in the Kingdom,” said Dr. Javed Iqbal, chief pathologist at Dammam Central Hospital during a blood drive at the hospital on Friday instigated by Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaat (TNTJ), a fraternity of southern Indians.
More than 114 volunteers donated blood during the drive while about 50 were turned away because organizers did not have sufficient facilities to store blood.
“This is the first time in the history of the hospital that such a large volume of blood has been donated by a single group of volunteers in a day,” Iqbal said.
TNTJ spokesman Toufik Ahmed said this was his group's ninth blood drive.
“The group has received three certificates of appreciation from hospital authorities for helping them in collecting blood,” he said. “Such acts are encouraged in Islam.”
