Hospitals in Eastern Province marked World Blood Donor Day by encouraging citizens and residents to donate blood. At Saad Specialist Hospital here, Dr. Muhammad Al-Sammak consultant and blood bank director, carried out a campaign for blood donation boosting the hospital's base of donors to serve the largest possible number of needy patients in the Kingdom and Gulf region. Dr. Sammak said the campaign seeks to spread awareness among citizens and residents of the importance of blood donation, to find regular contributors and help provide the required quantity and quality of safe blood and blood products to patients. Enthusiasm and gusto marked the day with several Saudis and expatriates lining up at various blood donation camps. Various studies have proved that voluntary unpaid donors are the foundation of a safe blood supply because they are least likely to transmit potentially life-threatening infections, such as HIV and hepatitis viruses, to the recipients of their blood. It is to these unsung heroes that World Blood Donor Day is dedicated to. World-class organizations such as Saudi Aramco marked the World Blood Donor Day, through its Blood Collection & Transfusion Unit (BCTU). In Jeddah, King Abdul Aziz University marked the World Blood Donation Day with theme ‘Giving Blood Regularly.' Extending this noble campaign of blood donation on foreign shores as well, Saudi Arabia's embassies were the location of blood donation campaigns. Thousands of Saudi students in Australian universities have also donated blood for the first time in recognition of World Blood Donor Day 2008. The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Canberra in conjunction with the Australian Red Cross has launched a campaign of blood donations amongst embassy staff and Saudi students. __
