HMC will hold a blood donation drive today at the Entertainment City which attracts a large number of visitors. It is the main venue for the Qatar Summer Festival 2015 organised by QTA.

Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Blood Donation Centre will hold a blood donation drive today at the Entertainment City in the Doha Exhibition Centre where a large number of visitors are expected.
The activity aims to spread awareness about the importance of donating blood to boost national blood reserves needed by hospitals and emergency trauma centres across Qatar.
Visitors will be invited to register and donate in a specialist ambulance which will be parked at the venue entrance from 4pm.
“Donating blood to those who need it is a  duty and we work closely with a number of government entities and civil society organisations to boost the success rate of our blood donation drives,” said Sadiqa Ismail al-Mahmoudi, medical manager at the Blood Donation Centre.
HMC has reached out to Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) to tap into Qatar Summer Festival’s popularity known to attract thousands of visitors.
Al-Mahmoudi pointed out that the activity can help them reach a large number of people and increase their blood reserves of all types, especially O negative, which is the most urgently needed blood type.
“Hundreds of donors are being added to our donor list on a daily basis, contributing as a result to helping save the lives of the ill and injured,” the HMC official added.
QTA responded positively saying it is pleased to help the campaign through the festival.
“QTA firmly believes in supporting initiatives that are in the public’s interest and promote community service in Qatar,” Public Relations and Communication director Faisal Ahmed al-Mohannadi said.
He noted that the Entertainment City had received more than 78,000 visitors in the first 10 days of the festival.
The venue makes it an ideal base for a campaign looking to save lives through voluntary contributions, according to al-Mohannadi.
HMC stressed that giving blood is a safe procedure with donors receiving medical attention before and after donating.