Manama, Bahrain - MORE than 80 students and faculty gave blood at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)-Medical University of Bahrain's (MUB) first ever blood donation drive.
The event was organised by the MUB's Medical Society in conjunction with the Salmaniya Medical Complex's (SMC) Central Blood Bank, aimed to promote the importance of giving blood.
"As a medical school we have a responsibility to raise awareness about the importance of giving blood among future doctors who will go on to practice in Bahrain, the Gulf and throughout the world," said MUB Assistant Registrar Riyadh Dhaif.
"We plan to hold similar campaigns on a regular basis to really drive home the message that giving blood can save lives," he said.
MUB Medical Society Treasurer Amal Muflahi said that the demand for blood is never-ending and that such blood drives can mean the difference between life and death for people.
"It is important that the blood bank has a large reserve of different blood types. Blood has many uses in medicine which can save lives and treat disease. Donating blood is an easy and relatively painless way for healthy individuals to help others in their community who are sick or injured," she said.
"It is important for medical and nursing students in particular to support such worthy causes. Today's students will be tomorrows public health leaders and this blood drive will help foster their concern and awareness for medical issues."
Salmaniya Medical Complex Lab Technician Zahra Shafei said that she was impressed by how keen the MUB's faculty and staff were to participate in the blood drive.
"This is the first blood donation campaign organized by the Central Blood Bank with a private university. It was great to see such a high level enthusiasm among everyone involved."
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Editor's note:
The Medical University of Bahrain (MUB), a constituent of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RSCI), has signed a Public Relations agreement with FP7 Bahrain to handle its communications plan and activities. RCSI-MUB, officially opened in Bahrain in October 2004 in the Seef District, provides healthcare education and training to world standards in Bahrain, drawing students from Bahrain, India, Italy, Kuwait, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States of America and Yemen. In March 2006, the foundation stone for the new RCSI-MUB campus in Muharraq has been jointly laid by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa and the Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland, Mary Harney. The University's new BD 10-plus million campus will occupy an area of 90,000sqm and will be built in phases starting with the central administration and medical teaching building and student accommodation which should be fully operational by mid 2008. In September 2006 the school of Nursing has opened its doors for students where it is considered the first non governmental nursing school in Bahrain that gives a bachelor's degree and other schools in the fields of pharmacy, physiotherapy and dentistry will be added to the campus at a later phase.
For more information, please contact:
Hussain Rasool
Promoseven Weber Shandwick PR
Bahrain
Tel: +973 17500777
Fax: 17229661
© Press Release 2007
