Blood donation costs nothing, but can mean the world to someone in need. By taking part in a blood donation, an individual not only saves someone else’s life but also improves his or her health. It is a life-saving gift from one man to another irrespective of the religion, nationality, race, culture or country. The world recently observed World Blood Donor Day with slogan – ‘give blood and keep the world beating.’ The objectives of this year’s campaign set by WHO are to: thank blood donors the world over and create wider public awareness on the need for regular, unpaid blood donation; promote community values of blood donation in enhancing community solidarity and social cohesion; encourage youth to embrace the humanitarian call to donate blood and inspire others to do the same; and to celebrate the potential of youth as partners in promoting health. The day was marked in Qatar with dedication and commitment to keep the world pulsating. Qatar has a heterogeneous population with people coming together from different backgrounds and it would not be erroneous to say that blood donation is indeed one way of reaching out and helping each other. On the occasion, Gulf Times spoke to prominent figures of different expatriate communities on raising awareness and donating blood. Subramanya Hebbagelu, vice president of Indian Cultural Center, has not only been a regular blood donor since 2010, but he also keeps organising community blood donation drives. “In last 11 years, I have donated blood as many as 15 times in Qatar. Through personal experience, I have learnt that blood donation is one of the supreme ways of donating what genuinely belongs to me for the purpose of saving the lives of others without any expectation in return. It is an opportunity to regenerate my blood. We need to understand that human blood cannot be cultivated or produced by artificial, scientific or technological means. It can only be donated by a human to another.” Subramanya, whose blood donation calls have been receiving a positive response from different Indian community groups, believes that communicating the awareness to young people about the advantages of blood donation plays a pivotal role in increasing the number of donors. “The scepticism and rumours about blood donation causing weakness and illness can only be eliminated by raising further awareness. We need to follow a healthy lifestyle to remain medically fi t for blood donation,” he added. Pakistani expatriate Adnan Qureshi, senior core committee member of QSindhis, a community organisation of expatriates from Sindh province of Pakistan, and his group have also been holding blood donation drives in Qatar. “By donating blood we help others in need and also let our body produce new blood. We are brought into the world for a purpose and one such purpose is to serve others. Donating blood is the best way to help others,” he said. Qureshi is convinced that further awareness and motivation is necessary to raise number of donors in Qatar. “We should never waste the opportunity to help others. Try to be the first to donate blood for others. The joy of helping others that follows a blood donation is priceless. Don’t hesitate. Donating blood causes no harm to you.” Anwar Hossain Akon, president, Bangladesh Community Qatar, said “for me ‘feel for others’ is the base and basic of humanity. I believe donating blood is one of the highest and noblest humanitarian acts. I would urge the expatriates from Bangladesh to continue coming forward and donating blood. We also need to continuously motivate others to take part in this humanitarian activity.” Further motivating his compatriots, Anwar said: “It is important to mention here that members of Bangladesh community often arrange blood donation campaigns on different occasions. In March 2021, the Al Noor Cultural Center held a blood donation drive while commemorating the Independence Day of Bangladesh. There are also other expatriate groups regularly holding blood donation drives. I think we still need to do more to increase blood donation. Give blood to keep the world beating and be a winner,” Anwar stressed. Hazim Hamza, general secretary of the Sri Lankan Community Benevolent Fund and head of community development unit of Sri Lankan Islamic Center Qatar, takes active part in different welfare and social activities for the Sri Lankan expatriates in Qatar. “Donating blood is a meritorious act apart from carrying some health benefits. It is an act that is beneficial both for the donor and the recipient,” he said. Urging his Sri Lankan compatriots, Hazim said every healthy individual should make use of any opportunity to donate blood. “It’s an opportunity to save a life. Every member of the community, men and women alike, should engage in this act.