Media Release

Doha, Nov 19: Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC), a socio-cultural organization to reach out to its community, recently organized a blood donation campaign at the Hamad Medical Corporation Blood donor unit.

The blood donation campaign promotes a culture of voluntary blood donation by educating people on the importance of blood donation and how it can make a positive impact on the lives of many patients. This campaign received an enthusiastic response from its members and community participants who came together to join this noble cause as a holistic service to the community and Qatar. This was the ninth blood donation campaign organized by MCC and witnessed a good turnout of donors from 8 am till noon.

Naveen D’Souza, general secretary extended a general welcome and invited the MCC president, Sunil D’Silva to address the gathering. Sunil D’Silva welcomed the gathering and acknowledged the presence of all those who attended in big numbers on a Friday morning to support this campaign.

Welcoming the guest speaker, Dr Antonio Santimano, MBBS, Doctor of Medicine and Surgery MD he said, "Dr Antonio Santimano achieved an honours in General Surgery and ENT surgery. He has been working with Hamad Medical Corporation since 2015 and is involved with Medical Research. Dr Antonio was actively involved with the blood bank
donor unit and blood processing during his services at Bombay Hospital." Advisor of MCC, Jessy Mendonca, presented him with a flower bouquet.

Dr Antonio in his address to the gathering appreciated the efforts put in by MCC in organizing the campaign and thanked MCC for allowing him an opportunity to share his knowledge of blood donation and its benefits. Having worked in the trauma center, he shared his experiences of having a dire need of blood donors required on a daily basis especially for those patients post-traumatic accidents.

He described the mechanism of how donated blood is screened and divided into plasma, platelets, red blood cells and used in trauma centers in various critical cases. He conducted an interactive session by asking a few questions related to the prerequisites of a blood donor and dos and don’ts for a blood donor. He also highlighted the benefits of blood donation.

A group photograph of all those present was taken along with the guest Dr Antonio Santimano.

The president and executive committee members of MCC set an example by donating blood and extended a good initiative by inviting many of their friends and colleagues to join this drive. The campaign witnessed a registration of 53 volunteers out of which 43 were successful in donating blood after their checkups. All those present were provided snacks and juice.

Prominent members from the community and other Karnataka Club presidents and leaders were in attendance at the campaign. Ibraiz Khan - Karnataka Muslim Cultural Association (KMCA), Abdul Majid - South Kanara Muslim Cultural Association (SKMWA), Ragunath Anchan - Billavas Qatar, Saquib Raza Khan - Vice-president KMCA, Ramanna Hegde - Vice-president - Bunts Qatar were welcomed by the president, Sunil D’Silva.

Sunil D’Silva thanked and recognized the efforts of the executive committee and all the MCC members, volunteers and donors who supported this campaign and hoped that others too will be inspired to donate blood and save lives. MCC also thanked Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) for their continued support for this campaign which ultimately aims at supporting the blood bank reserve in all Qatar hospitals.