Doha-Qatar, 05 Nov 2017: Mangalore Cricket Club, a socio-cultural organization reached out to its community in a noble initiative organizing a blood donation campaign on Friday 3rd November 2017 at the Hamad Medical Corporation Blood Donor unit. This campaign received an enthusiastic response from its members and community members wherein different nationalities too came together to join this noble cause as a holistic service to the community and Qatar. This was the 7th blood donation campaign organized by MCC and witnessed a good turnout of donors from morning 8 am to 12.30 pm.
Riana Pinto, General Secretary extended a general welcome and invited President Prakash Noronha to address the gathering. Prakash Noronha welcomed the gathering and thanked all who attended in big numbers on a Friday morning in support this campaign. This noble deed of donating blood and saving lives of the needy is very much appreciated.
He then welcomed Mangalorean Community Dr. Glen Fernandes, MBBS, MD Anesthesia, Fellowship Pain Management, working as a Lead Consultant for the Acute Pain Services in Department of Anesthesia & Peri-operative Medicine at Hamad Medical Corporation to speak on the benefits of blood donation. Kavita Tauro Cultural Secretary presented him with a flower bouquet.
Dr. Glen working in the intensive care mentioned the dire need of blood donors required on a daily basis at the trauma centre to save lives. He described the mechanism of how the donated blood is screened and divided into plasma, platelets and used in trauma centre and on critical cases, how the blood bank supports them in emergency and how they react in trauma cases to alert the need of required blood group, and explained how important is to donate blood as in some cases even 16 bottles are used on one patient in critical cases. He also explained how a body gains blood within 24 hours after donating blood and how a person benefits by being a donor. He also cleared doubts by answering questions of donors. He concluded giving an important message of using seatbelts while driving for driver and passengers including kids at the back seat which is the major cause of accidents in Qatar. He requested to train oneself and pass on the legacy of safe driving to their children. Dr. Glen shared some useful information through this talk to the gathered audience.
He too joined other donors in donating blood and also encouraged the volunteers to regularly donate blood and appreciated the efforts put by MCC in organizing the campaign.
President and Committee members set an example by donating blood and took a good initiative in inviting many of their friends, colleagues, company people to join this drive and witnessed a good registration of 70 volunteers out of which 42 were successful in donating blood after their checkups. All were provided with snacks and juice.
Prominent members from the community ICC President Mrs. Milan Arun, Karnataka Sangha President H. K. Madhu, Senior Vice President Venkata Rao, TuluKoota Patron/Past President Ravi Shetty, Bunts Qatar President Navaneeth Shetty, Karnataka Muslim Cultural Association Past President Niyaz Ahmad, Indian Sports Center Committee member Divakar Poojary etc too attended this drive in support of this noble initiative.
Hamad Medical Corporation then presented Mangalore Cricket Club with a certificate in appreciation of this drive and appreciation certificates to all donors.
MCC President Prakash Noronha thanks all committee members for their strong support in this drive and sincerely thanks the company officials for sending in their employees, all MCC members, volunteers and donors for this noble deed who made this a successful campaign.