DFM holds blood donation drive
Dubai Financial Market (DFM) concluded yesterday (June 3, 2008) a blood donation drive in collaboration with Al Wasl hospital, in order to benefit children with the deadly blood disease thalassaemia. The event drew people from DFM and other financial services companies based in Dubai.
Ahmed Al Jazeri, Finance & Administration Department Director of DFM, said: “Donating blood is one of the easiest ways for an individual to make a significant difference in the health of the people of the region. DFM recognises the enormousness of the need by this country’s healthcare facilities for donated blood, and we are pleased to provide our support in this regards.”
Thalassaemia is a group of genetic diseases of the blood that hinders the production of specific proteins necessary to helping the bloodstream carry sufficient oxygen. There are two major types of thalassaemia: alpha thalassaemia and beta thalassaemia. Alpha thalassaemia hinders the production of alpha protein and beta thalassaemia hinders the production of beta protein.
Without the necessary production of alpha or beta proteins, people with the disease will experience fatigue, jaundice and anemia. Untreated, thalassaemia usually leads to heart failure. Thalassaemia is commonly found throughout the Gulf states.
Al Jazeri concluded: “In addition to the importance played by donated blood for basic medical procedures, the need for transfusions to combat blood-borne diseases such as thalassaemia is crucial. In many cases, the best treatment for thalassaemia is a regimen of blood transfusions, and hospitals can only administer those if they have adequate amounts of donated blood from the public.
