One of the blood donors at a blood donation campaign at HMC Blood Donor Center, yesterday.
More than 200 members of 24 Filipino organisations donated blood during a campaign organised yesterday by Filipino group Bantay at Kasangga ng OFW International Qatar Chapter (BAK).
It was the first time for BAK to hold a blood donation campaign which was held from 2pm to 6pm yesterday at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) Blood Donor Center.
Established two years ago, BAK is a non-profit organisation working towards protecting the interest of overseas Filipino workers here through its various initiatives.
Jennifer Fortin, BAK treasurer, said the idea of organising the campaign came up at a meeting during which they were thinking of other ways to extend help to the larger community in Qatar.
“We have already organised a number of outreach and livelihood programmes in the past but this is the first time for us to have a blood donation campaign. One of our members suggested a blood donation campaign in response to an announcement by HMC,” said Fortin.
BAK started planning for the activity in March and was able to gather 23 other Filipino groups to support the campaign, which will be of help to HMC blood bank to ensure availability of blood especially in case of emergency.
The group, which currently has nearly 100 members, has also lined up a number of initiatives in the future .
“We have scheduled an outreach programme at Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO-OWWA) on July 28. We are also planning to have a medical mission early next year and we hope all these groups will again support us,” said Fortin.
Hydroponics session and cosmetology were among the livelihood programmes undertaken by the group to help distressed OFWs temporarily sheltered at POLO-OWWA.
The group is also looking at expanding its membership and initiatives to extend help to more OFWs in Qatar.
