Dubai Health marked World Blood Donor Day by recognising 43 key contributors to the long-running ‘My Blood, for My Country’ campaign, celebrating a collective effort that has helped secure over 500,000 units of blood since the initiative began in 2012.
Held on 14 June, the ceremony honoured 11 government entities, 10 private institutions, and 22 individual donors who have played a pivotal role in the campaign’s success. The initiative is jointly run by Dubai Health, Al Ameen Service, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), and Emarat Al Youm newspaper.
Over 13 years, the campaign has engaged more than 300,000 donors from 150 nationalities, supplying vital blood to public and private hospitals across the UAE, including the Thalassemia Center. In 2024 alone, first-time donors made up 54% of participants, with youth aged 18 to 30 accounting for 41% of the donor base.
Dr. Muna Tahlak, Chief Medical Officer at Dubai Health, praised the campaign’s longevity and community support, emphasising its role in saving lives and promoting voluntary blood donation as a national responsibility.
Al Ameen Service’s General Supervisor, Omar Al Falasi, highlighted the initiative’s health and social benefits, while DHA’s Mona Bajman described it as a model for sustainable community engagement.
Ibrahim Shukrallah, Editor-in-Chief of Emarat Al Youm, underscored the campaign’s media-driven outreach and its role in uniting society around a common humanitarian cause.
The campaign continues to encourage both organisations and individuals to support regular blood donation, with a special focus on first-time and rare blood type donors—further strengthening the UAE’s health system and culture of giving.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
