Serving Umrah Pilgrims by Donating Blood

Several people donated blood on Friday to assist Umrah pilgrims this year.

The Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath (TNTJ), a social organization, held the event and collected 220 units at King Fahd Medical City (KFMC). This was its 34th campaign, which saw donation by 238 people mainly from Tamil Nadu and neighboring states including Kerala.

“We could have collected more blood but the hospital authorities limited us to 220 units,” said Mujeebur Rahman, the coordinator for the TNTJ. Another campaign would be held next week, he said.

Saud Al-Anazi, head of the KFMC laboratory team, thanked the organizers for their “noble work.” He said the TNTJ was the only organization providing the hospital with large amounts of blood. Rahman said the TNTJ had conducted 33 camps over the past 10 years. The hospital had given the organization more than 15 awards. He said the TNTJ continues to provide the most blood in Gulf countries. The organization has also received several awards from the Ministry of Health and the Tamil Nadu government, he said.

Riyadh TNTJ President Irshad Ahmed said the TNTJ organizes voluntary blood donation campaigns for Umrah and Haj pilgrims.” This time the blood will be used for Umrah pilgrims,” he said.

Quoting from the Qur’an, he said that Allah has urged people to save the lives of their fellows. These good deeds help to create harmony in society; and clear up misconceptions of Muslims held in the West, he said.

According to a royal decree issued in 1984, the Health Ministry does not import blood. It is collected from residents and citizens, who do so voluntarily. The 20 health directorates in the Kingdom make their own arrangements. People can donate up to 450 ml of blood, or one unit, every two to three months. This amount is small, given that the body contains five to six liters, or 10 to 12 units. Donation takes about 30 minutes.

There are a number of different blood types: O positive and negative, A positive and negative, B positive and negative, AB positive and negative. In an emergency, anyone can receive type O negative red blood cells. People with type O blood are known as universal donors, and those with type AB blood as universal recipients.

An official from the General Directorate of Blood Banks and Laboratories said recently that every year more than 500,000 citizens are registered as blood donors with the blood banks throughout the Kingdom.