RIYADH: As part of World Blood Donor Day, the Kingdom launched a blood donation campaign and has honored volunteers who have given blood more than 50 times in total.

Health Minister Khalid Al-Falih presented medals to the accredited volunteers, who have contributed blood through various health facilities in the Kingdom.

Ibrahim Al-Omar, undersecretary for laboratories and blood banks at the Ministry of Health, said the volunteers make blood donations as part of their divine obligations to Almighty Allah which eventually helps sick people.

“The whole idea of the project is to supply safe blood to those who are in need of it through hygienic means,” Al-Omar said, adding that the Ministry of Health has streamlined procedures to give donors the best services.

The theme of this year’s campaign is “Thank you for saving my life,” which focuses on thanking blood donors who save lives every day through their blood donations, and strongly encourages more people all over the world to regularly donate blood, with the slogan “Give freely, give often. Blood donation matters.”

The Ministry of Health does not import blood. Blood is collected from residents and citizens, who make voluntary donations regularly.