W Doha holds blood donation campaign to celebrate World Blood Donor Day 2011

W Doha, leading style icon of Doha is inviting talents working in the hotel to donate blood on July 7 to celebrate the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) annual World Blood Donor Day, which took place this year on June 14. 

Countries worldwide joined in with events to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.

The theme for World Blood Donor Day 2011 is, "More blood. More life." This theme reinforces the urgent need for more people all over the world to become life-savers by volunteering to donate blood regularly. 

Edgar Vaudeville, PR & Events Manager at W Doha, commented: “It’s amazing to see how many of our talents want to make a difference to the community by donating their blood.  The message is clear, you don’t have to be a doctor to save lives, just donate blood.  It’s safe, it’s simple and it saves lives. W Doha is inviting all to support the W Doha Hotel & Residences Blood Donation Day on July 7.” 

Racquel Manuel, Talent Nurse at W Doha, said: “General requirements for talents who donate are that they are 18-60 years old, weigh over 45Kg and are in good health and not on any medication or anti-biotics.  Further to that they need to have at least 5 hours sleep the night before and have consumed no alcohol for the last 24 hours.  Finally, women should not be pregnant and all those applying need to show their residence permit, Qatar driver license or health card.  As a reward, special souvenirs await all talents who volunteer to give blood!”    

Growing need for more blood

Today, 62 countries have blood transfusion services based entirely on voluntary blood donation, up from 39 in 2002. The 2009 Melbourne Declaration called on countries to achieve 100% voluntary unpaid blood donation by the year 2020 and World Blood Donor Day aims to increase blood donation by stressing how blood transfusions can save lives and improve the health of millions each year.  Motivating more individuals to become regular blood donors is vital to ensure sufficient stocks to meet national requirements, even in emergency situations.  

This year, WHO and partners are encouraging all countries to join the World Blood Donor Day campaign and “Paint the world red”, whether by colouring, covering or lighting monuments, popular landmarks and buildings in red or staging artistic, cultural or musical events with a red-coloured theme.

Worldwide, at least 90 million units of blood are donated each year to save lives and improve health. However, demand for blood for transfusion continues to increase, and many countries cannot meet existing needs. In many regions, this means inadequate supplies to replace blood lost in childbirth (a major cause of maternal deaths) and to treat anaemia that threatens the lives of children who have malaria or are undernourished. 

Everywhere, blood and blood products are needed for routine and emergency surgery, including life-saving treatment for growing numbers of people injured in road traffic accidents, and for treating congenital blood disorders. 

Globally, more than 70 countries have blood donation rates less than what is generally considered necessary to meet a nation’s basic requirements for blood, namely 1% of the population; the requirements are higher in countries with advanced health care systems. Even countries with higher donation rates often struggle to maintain blood stocks that are sufficient to meet the requirements for a range of increasingly sophisticated medical and surgical procedures. 

Edgar added:  “As we can see, every drop counts to help counteract the shortages of blood in the world, so we are keen to do what we can to help increase stocks for the good of others that need it in the community.”