“Whoever saves one life, it is as if he saved the whole of mankind”
The Holy Qur’an 5:32
Who Can Help? There is a great shortage of blood donors amongst those people from minority ethnic backgrounds, with only 3% of donors being of Asian, African or Afro-Caribbean descent. This is met with a large number of patients from those ethnicities suffering from rare conditions that rely on blood transfusions to improve their chances of survival. With a single donation potentially saving the lives of three people, this campaign boosts the amount of blood available to help those in need.
Why Imam Hussain ? Muslims around the world commemorate Imam Hussain (a), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (s), as a figure who stood for justice. This was exemplified upon his noble martyrdom which took place in 680 AD in Karbala, Iraq during Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. His example can inspire us to give the precious gift of blood to help those in need, whilst also honouring his memory and the message he brought.
About the Project Set up in January 2006, the Imam Hussain Blood Donation Campaign (IHBDC) aims to encourage more Muslims to come forth and become blood donors. This is the first and currently largest national campaign in the UK to specifically focus on increasing the number of blood donors from the Muslim community, and those of other faith and no-faith communities. We have teamed up with the NHS to hold dedicated donor sessions across the UK for people to come and donate as part of the campaign
Where we’ve been Since the launch of the campaign, donation sessions have taken place in more than 19 cities across the UK.
Giving Blood
Blood is something we all expect to be there for us when we need it, yet only 4% of us give blood. Blood donation services help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer, and they thus play a crucial role in saving those who have suffered accidents during man-made and natural disasters, as well as in maternal and child care. The service is of immense value and without regular donations a number of medical procedures would not be possible. Thus many people would not be alive today if it wasn’t for the generosity of donors. Most people can give blood, but all donors have to meet the eligibility criteria before their blood is accepted to ensure there’s no risk of us harming you or the patients who will receive it.
Where can I give blood?
If you’ve never given blood before you’ll probably wonder what Blood Donation Sessions are and what happens there. They can take place at regular intervals at your local community centre, church, sports club or even daily at one of our permanent sites across Scotland. The SNBTS has five permanent Donor Centres in the following locations: Aberdeen Donor Centre, Dundee Donor Centre, Edinburgh Donor Centre, Glasgow Donor Centre, and Inverness Donor Centre.
To book an appointment please visit: www.scotblood.co.uk
www.sabs.org.uk