The increasingly acute health problems faced by those suffering from Thalassemia, the debilitating blood disease, have been targeted by Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC). With the number of Thalassemia cases registered in the UAE having climbed to in excess of 500 cases (Al Wasal Hospital), the diversified petroleum group launched a blood donation campaign, ENOC Cares III, centered on the problems of those affected by the condition.
The third of its kind drive to raise awareness of Thalassemia has been incorporated into ENOC’s annual blood donation drive, which is being held in association with the Blood Donation Centre at Al Wasal Hospital and the Department of Blood Transfusion Services at the Ministry of Health, Sharjah. More than 100 ENOC employees participated in the blood donation drive.
Thalassemia sufferers require monthly blood transfusions to counter the acute anaemia they are prone to as a result of their condition. More than 70 per cent of the blood donated this time will go to Thalassemia patients in the UAE.
Hussain Sultan, ENOC’s Chief Executive and Board Member, said: “This is a very important campaign and touches the lives of people who have no means of countering the effects of a condition they are born with. I am very proud that the ENOC community has chosen to participate in such a worthwhile cause.”
Thalassemiacs need for blood transfusions increase with age. Adult sufferers require four to five pints a month. Hospitals in the UAE face severe strains on their resources to meet this need so ENOC’s campaign is particularly timely
The 30 per cent of the donations that do not go to Thalassemia sufferers will be passed on to cardio surgeries and to meet the needs of car accidents victims and hospitals.
Saleh Nazari, Product Manager, ENOC Chemicals, who participated in the blood donation drive said, “I donate because of humanitarian reasons. To help those who are fighting for their lives and also for health reasons. This is the second time I have donated blood this year through the ENOC cares blood donation campaign.”
Arif Shaikh, senior product manager, ENOC International Sales said, “I had an accident long time ago at a young age. If it wasn’t for someone who had donated blood to save me, I would have been dead. So now I am donating to save someone’s life in return.”
Doctors from Al Wasal hospital set up makeshift medical camps at ENOC House and Emirates Gas in Jebel Ali on Thursday, September 15 to allow the company’s staff to make their blood donations.
Photo Caption: ENOC Cares organises blood donation drive to combat shortage in blood banks in the UAE.
ABOUT ENOC
Established in 1993 as a wholly-owned company of the Government of Dubai, ENOC aims to promote the interests of its shareholders through the development of further downstream and upstream activities in the oil and gas sector and beyond and to encourage the economic diversification of Dubai and the rest of
ENOC actively participates in an increasingly broad range of business ventures. Its joint ventures with major international companies allow partners to pool their technology, know-how and expertise along with their resources to further their commercial success.
Since its inception, ENOC has been guided by its philosophy of quality and professional management based on modern business concepts for commercial success and sustainable growth. Today it is poised to engineer a new and challenging period of growth and diversity.
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