Some 4,400 individuals registered as organ donors during the campaign run by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) on the first 10 days of Ramadan.
In a statement yesterday, HMC expressed gratitude to those who had already registered to “give the gift of life” and requested any other members of the public who had not yet registered to consider doing so.
Staff members from the Qatar Organ Donation Centre (Hiba) are currently stationed in shopping malls and other prominent locations around the country, aiming to educate members of the public on organ donation and asking them to register as donors.
Individuals will be able to register as donors on the spot and receive their donor card. The staff members are well trained to answer any questions in multiple languages.
Hiba director Dr Riadh Fadhil, who is already a registered donor, said being a donor is a noble act and he is grateful to all those who register.
“I am asking everyone to think about registering as a donor so that we may have a situation in Qatar where no one will have to wait or travel overseas for an organ transplant.”
HMC is also launching a social media campaign to promote the act of being a registered donor.
They are asking people who are already registered to post photographs of themselves on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, with their donor card, explaining why they are a registered organ donor, with the hashtags #hmc #Iamadonor
They are aiming to showcase the programme in Qatar and the generosity of the population, as well as encouraging others to register.
Dr Yousuf al-Maslamani, medical director of Hamad General Hospital and director of the Qatar Centre for Organ Transplantation, is part of the team taking part in the campaign on social media.
“I have seen the positive impact an organ donation can have on a family – that is why I am a donor. This campaign is very important and will really support the continued development and expansion of the organ donation and transplant programme here in Qatar.”
HMC has advised the public to visit one of the 12 organ donation booths that will be open throughout Ramadan and Eid to learn more about organ donation.
For more information, one can visit http://organdonation.hamad.qa
The malls and shopping centres covered by the initiative are City Center Doha, Landmark, Ezdan Mall, Villaggio, Safari Mall, Quality Hypermarket - Salwa Road, Quality Hypermarket - Bin Mahmoud, Al Khor Mall, Dar Al Salam, Souq Waqif, LuLu Hypermarket – Airport (D-Ring Road) and LuLu Hypermarket – Barwa City.
