The importance of blood and organ donation was stressed by HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani,  chairman of the Board of Trustees of AlFaisal Without Borders (ALF),  as the national campaign got underway in Qatar on Sunday.
“Blood and organ donation is a national duty as it can save the lives of many,” he said, after inaugurating the annual Ramadan Voluntary Blood and Organ Donation Campaign.
Sheikh Faisal also launched the AlFaisal Social Responsibility Centre’s booth for its second year at the City Center Doha. This campaign is part of the Foundation’s social partnership and national initiatives.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by officials from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), the Blood Donation Centre and Qatar Centre for Organ Transplantation as well as management and members of AlFaisal Social Responsibility Centre.
Sheikh Faisal emphasised  that the campaign represents a national duty and stems from the goals of ALF.  “We always strive to create a community partnership through moral support for the efforts of the Supreme Council of Health and the Blood Donation Centre at HMC to enrich the blood bank stocks throughout the holy month of Ramadan.  
“The campaign is vital as it aims to provide support and assistance to patients in need of blood, and to spread the culture of voluntary donation throughout society and active participation in supporting national efforts to maintain the health of citizens,” he added.  
Abdullatif Ali al-Yafei, general manager of ALF said:  “Now in its fourth year, the campaign has proved to be crucial for the nation’s health.  We hope this year’s campaign will be equally successful and attract even more donors and today we affirm the cultural vision of ALF as a leading national and international institution that aspires to promote sustainable development and decency.  ALF’s aims are to build bridges of cultural communication with the community to provide a society with a philanthropic code for the future.”
HMC has expressed its appreciation to Sheikh Faisal as well as other local organisations and shopping malls for sponsoring and hosting the campaigns throughout Ramadan.
Dr Yousuf al-Maslamani, director of Qatar Organ Transplant Centre at HMC, said: “I invite the public to visit one of the organ donation stands during the evenings, throughout the holy month of Ramadan, to learn more about organ donation and transplantation and those who are interested can register as a donor.”
AlFaisal Social Responsibility Centre aims to introduce a new concept of volunteer work, from serving others to serving oneself alongside others. By providing an environment for growth, values, change, success and positive relationships, the Centre hopes to make an impact in contributing to the nation’s growth.