Filipinos Donate Blood to Saudi Blood Bank
DAMMAM – A total of ninety seven blood bags were collected during the bloodletting day jointly conducted by All Filipino Community and Sports Commission (AFCSCOM) and OFW Congress Eastern Region Chapter in cooperation with POLO-ERO on April 14.
With the theme “Dugo Ko, Buhay Mo, A Gift of Life”, the Filipinos voluntarily went to Saudi Regional Blood Bank in Dammam and braved the needles to save other’s lives.
Dr. Rafiq Calcutti, blood bank official, lauded the unity of Filipinos in doing charitable activity like donating blood. “Blood donations are very good gesture. I am happy that the community from Philippines have gathered together, you have come here for this human cause to donate blood”, Calcutti said.
He said further, the blood will be distributed to public and private hospitals in Eastern Region to help patients with emergency cases and those with long-term treatment.
Another blood bank employee Ali Al-Hamada was grateful for the noble act of the Filipinos. “We are thanking the Filipino community for donating blood to save the lives of others. Thank you very much”, Al-Hamada said. For the Filipinos, they feel like a better people because they know that their precious blood will go to those who are in need. “Masaya po ako na nakapag-donate ako ng dugo sapagkat makatulong ako sa mga nangangailangan ng dugo”, Russell Manalo of Dhahran said.
Although some of them were first timers yet they did not hesitate to donate. “Una po kinakabahan ako dahil first time ko po mag-donate. Pero syempre po masaya ako dahil nakatulong ako sa community dito sa Saudi”, Francis Morano of AlKhobar opined.
Also, some of them were not able to donate because they did not pass the preliminary test because of the blood bank’s strict policy. “Hindi po ako pumasa dahil po mayroon akong hypentension kaya po nakapanghinayang na hindi ako nakapag-bigay ng dugo”, Eugene Fadriquilan said.
POLO-ERO Officer-in-charge Sitti Jaafar was elated by the good gestures of Pinoys. She commended and thanked and said “this is a very significant contribution to the people regardless of the nationalities as well as to the whole of the society”. The two groups plan to spearhead another bloodletting day in the near future.
Hon. Sitti Jaafar (center) with the Filipinos who donated blood.
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