The QAR 2.5 million mobile unit was donated by Awqaf’s Endowment Fund for Health Care.
The new unit operates as an integrated clinic to support the delivery of healthcare services in Qatar.
Doha, 31 August 2022: The General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) inaugurated on Monday, August 29th a new mobile blood donation unit worth of QAR 2.5 million with support of its Endowment Fund for Health Care. The unit, which will be operated by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), is a world-class integrated clinic that is aimed at supporting the delivery of healthcare services in Qatar. The mobile blood donation unit will effectively support HMC’s Qatar Blood Services in organizing blood donation campaigns across the country. The new mobile blood donation unit was inaugurated in the presence of Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed bin Ghanim Al Thani, Director General of the General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, and Mr. Ali Al Janahi, Acting Assistant Managing Director and Chief of Tertiary Hospitals Group at HMC.
Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed bin Ghanim Al Thani expressed his contentment with the ongoing collaboration with HMC and the constructive community partnership between HMC and Awqaf. He noted that this partnership comes in fulfillment of the wishes of the honorable endowers and supports the efforts to achieve the Ministry’s slogan “endowment is a community partnership”.
The 80 square meters mobile unit operates as an integrated clinic staffed by phlebotomy technicians, as well as medical, nursing, and administrative staff as required. The unit is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to provide support services in emergency cases when required.
Commenting on the specifications of the vehicle, Sheikh Dr. Khalid Al Thani said the new mobile blood donation vehicle was designed as per HMC requirements to meet the highest security and safety standards and the international technical specifications for mobile blood donation vehicles. The new unit can travel on the roads with ease from one site to another and operate in different climatic conditions. The mobile unit has an elegant external design and unique internal features to provide comfort for both donors and staff, as well as sliding curtains in all blood drawing rooms to ensure privacy for the donors.
The chassis of the vehicle was also designed with the ability to expand from both sides when the vehicle is in parking mode to provide additional space to accommodate more blood donors and provide more comfort for the medical team. The vehicle is also equipped with a wheelchair lift to allow donors with physical disability to access the unit.
Dr. Khalid Al Thani added that the mobile unit is designed and equipped with designated reception areas, a vital signs room, a doctor room, a pre-blood donation sample draw room, a blood draw room with a capacity of six donors and fully provides privacy measures for each donor. The mobile unit is also equipped with a rest area for donors who complete the blood donation. The room provides donors with a snack meal that is given to the donor before leaving the unit and ensuring the safety of the donor by the specialized team.
The blood draw room is a highly advanced room in terms of screening and blood draw machines and blood storage to ensure a safe blood transfer to the laboratories of the blood donation center.
Mr. Ali Al Janahi, Acting Assistant Managing Director said the gift of the new vehicle will pay a significant role in HMC’s efforts to secure sufficient supplies of blood needed in the lead up to and during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The 16-meter long mobile clinic is environment-friendly and is equipped with solar energy units and can operate on electric current from a direct power supply or generators.
“To be a blood donor is to give a wonderful, life-saving and life-preserving gift to a person in their time of urgent need,” Mr. Ali Al Janahi said. “Voluntary blood donation gives patients with life-threatening diseases who are in need of a blood transfusion a chance to live longer and improve the quality of their lives. This new vehicle will significantly add value to the work of Qatar Blood Services.”
“A blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system,” Mr. Ali Al Janahi said. “This new customized Blood Donation Mobile Unit will enable Qatar Blood Services to reach more members of the community and part of their efforts to ensure we have adequate blood supplies for our current and future needs.”
In addition to the mobile unit provided by Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, HMC has launched two additional new vehicles to support blood donation in the community.
The mobile units fulfills the two Blood Donor Centers located at Hamad bin Khalifa Medical City and HMC’s Surgical Specialty Center.
The Waqf Bank for Health Care is one of the six Waqf banks. It was established based on the historical role of health waqf in Islamic history. The General Administration of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs recognizes the importance of such activities and their role to the advancement of health services in societies. The Waqf bank supports different important sectors including providing treatment care and health services for patients in need with low-income, cooperating with the competent authorities to create joint health programs, holding educational training courses in the health field, and employing various media outlets. To spread the culture of health among the members of society.
Waqf is a noble community engagement way and is considered a great deed for one’s life and death. As Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “When the human being dies, his deeds end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him”.
The waqf service is available for anyone who wish to allocate a waqf in any of the waqf banks and can be accessed:
- online using bank cards through the website: awqaf.gov.qa/atm
- Ataa mobile service available through the link: awqaf.gov.qa/sms
- the quick cash collection available on these numbers 55199996 and 55199990
- the hotline 66011160
