Under the slogan, “JUST 30 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME CAN SAVE A LIFE”

HealthPlus & ALDAR Properties Join Hands in Hosting a Blood Donation Campaign in Cooperation with Abu Dhabi Blood Bank

Abu Dhabi, UAE: As part of their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CRS) joint initiatives towards a healthy community, HealthPlus & Aldar Properties launched a blood donation campaign administered by Abu Dhabi Blood Bank today 9 October 2012 at the HealthPlus Family Health Center in Al Bandar – Al Raha Beach Development. The clinical team of Abu Dhabi Blood Bank of Sheikh Khalifa Medical City arrived early morning to the location and collected over 50 blood units by evening.

This initiative follows a series of campaigns and health talks that HealthPlus and Aldar organized during the year 2012. “In response to the growing demand for blood and blood components, we welcomed today tens of blood donors in our Family Health Center in Al Bandar. We aim to organize such campaigns also in our network of centers throughout Abu Dhabi to improve accessibility and make it more convenient for donors who would like to participate in such a cause. Therefore, we have seen today residents living off island; donors from Aldar communities, employees, and partners; as well as HealthPlus visitors and employees,” said Mr. Majd Abu Zant, CEO of HealthPlus Medical Services in Abu Dhabi. “We endeavour to help promote the importance of blood donation and the fact that it saves lives; and to make sure that the community is aware of the cultural and humanitarian goals of such an act.”

“We are pleased to be organizing this blood donation drive in partnership with HealthPlus,” said Andrew Broderick, Aldar’s Health, Safety & Environment Manager. “It was great to see such an excellent turnout from the community at Al Raha Beach and we look forward to organizing more similar activities as part of our shared commitment to community health and social responsibility.”

Dr. Laila Abdel Wareth, Chairman of Laboratory Medicine at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City praised the efforts of the Abu Dhabi Blood Bank team for organizing the event and thanked HealthPlus and Aldar for hosting and organizing this blood donation campaign off island to facilitate on those who wish to donate blood while they live far away from the city. She further added, “Abu Dhabi Blood Bank organizes an average of seven blood donation drives weekly with different organizations in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The blood collected through the Blood Bank in such campaigns or in its campus covers the needs of governmental and private hospitals in Abu Dhabi as well as other Emirates. Blood transfusions often are needed for trauma victims due to accidents and burns, heart surgery, organ transplants, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or other diseases, such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia.”

“Every drop of blood counts. Each unit of blood, can help in the treatment of 3 patients: one with red cells for anaemia, one for bleeding with the platelets and the last with the plasma for different pathologies which need coagulation factors," explains Dr. Naima Oumeziane, Medical Head of Abu Dhabi Blood Bank.

Volunteers provide nearly all the nation’s blood supply for transfusion; there is no substitute for Human Blood. If eligible donors give blood twice a year, it would greatly help in maintaining an adequate blood supply for the country. Eligible blood donors can donate blood 3-4 times a year safely.

More information about Blood Donation Process
The Abu Dhabi Blood Bank medical staff performs tests on blood donors for hemoglobin, blood pressure and blood type. The blood collection process takes approximately 30 - 40 minutes per donor from the time volunteers register and begin the screening until they leave. The Blood Bank staff ensures that international standards are complied with and that all blood donors were carefully screened to meet strict criteria and that all blood that is donated undergoes 6 major tests for infectious disease. The blood donation process is very safe; the health care team at the Blood Bank will assess donors to ensure their safety. It is not possible to acquire any disease through donating blood because only new, disposable, sterilized equipment is used for each donor. Every year Abu Dhabi Blood Bank supplies more than 25000 units of blood (a total of over 40000 blood products) to help save the lives of accidents’ victims, fire victims anemia patients (Thalassemia and Sickle Cell disease), women with complications of pregnancy, such as ectopic pregnancies and hemorrhage before or during childbirth, patients with bleeding disorders (Hemophilia), patients undergoing surgeries, and cancer Patients. Each unit of donated blood saves the lives of three people.

About Aldar
Aldar Properties PJSC is Abu Dhabi's leading property development, management and investment company. It listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities market in 2004. Aldar was established to support the region's infrastructure through the creation of high quality, attractive and sustainable communities equipped with residential, commercial, retail, leisure, hospitality, education and medical facilities. Aldar's diverse property portfolio includes major developments and re-developments within Abu Dhabi including Yas Island, Al Raha Beach, World Trade Centre Abu Dhabi, Al Falah, and Noor Al Ain. The company owns a sizeable land bank in strategic locations throughout the Emirate.

HealthPlus
‘HealthPlus’, Abu Dhabi’s growing network of premium outpatient centers, was established by UEMedical, the Abu Dhabi based healthcare investors and developers. The healthcare network will provide state-of-the-art outpatient medical services and support the multiple missions of UEMedical, including outstanding patient care and extensive community outreach. Over 20 facilities, adopting international standards and best practices, will open over the coming years and form part of an integrated healthcare delivery system including UEMedical’s flagship project, Danat Al Emarat Women and Children's Hospital. The network will comprise of Centers of Excellence in a variety of specialties including Women’s Health, Fertility & Genetics, Day Surgery, Orthopedics & Rehabilitation, and Dental Health, in addition to a number of Family Clinics. The centers will be heavily involved in promoting community health awareness and education, and in supporting national programs in line with the initiatives of the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi of improving public health. HealthPlus will fill the apparent gaps in the healthcare sector, and focus will continually be placed on medical excellence, patient-centeredness and unparalleled levels of customer service. For more information, please visit www.hplus.ae

For press enquiries related to HealthPlus, please contact:

Farah Al Alami
Marketing & Communications Manager, UEMedical
M: 00971 50 6611428
T: 00971 2 6266805
F: 00971 2 6266897
E: falami@uems.ae