RIYADH — A total of 175 people donated blood here on Friday during the Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath (TNTJ) Riyadh Chapter's 100th blood donation camp in coordination with King Saud Medical City. The campaign saw about 193 people of various nationalities registering for donation. The donors thronged the hospital premises right at 8 a.m. and enthusiastically participated in the drive. A large number of expatriates, mostly from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, pledged to donate blood on a regular basis. TNTJ volunteers helped hospital staff in registration and coordination. A standard health screening procedure was followed prior to actual donation drive. Each donor underwent tests for blood pressure, sugar, hemoglobin count and communicable diseases before being allowed to donate blood. Ahamed Mukthar, camp coordinator, said TNTJ has conducted blood donation campaigns in coordination with KFMC and KSMC hospitals for the last 12 years and so far 100 camps have been held in Riyadh's Shumesi Hospital. Every year TNTJ organizes a campaign especially for the requirements of Haj and Umrah pilgrims. In recognition of TNTJ's voluntary donation camps, the Saudi Ministry of Health has given it a number of awards every year during International Blood Donors Day. "By the grace of Almighty Allah, the Riyadh TNTJ chapter has continued to see a high number of voluntary blood donors for the past 12 years," he said. KSMC blood bank chief Dr. Ibrahim Al Deaile provided full support to TNTJ volunteers and thanked the organizers for organizing such kind of noble work continuously. Riyadh TNTJ vice president Haja Maideen said, "TNTJ organizes voluntary blood donation campaigns according to the verse of the Holy Qur'an (Chapter 5 Verse 32): ‘Whoever saves a life will be as if he has saved the entire mankind.'" He said: "Our organization regularly conducts such camps across Gulf chapters as well. We hope that such camps provide an opportunity to understand the true teachings of Islam and create social harmony among religions," he added.
