By TCN News,
Jeddah: In a unique way of commemoration, a section of the Indian community living in Saudi Arab celebrated India’s 70th Independence Day by donating blood and pledged to do it on a regular basis.
On Friday around 250 members of Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaath (TNTJ), a social organisation from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, gathered at the King Fahad Hospital and donated 205 units of blood.
The campaign started at 2 pm and ended by 7 pm. This was the 12th such blood drive of this nature organized by TNTJ in Saudi Arabia.
Mohamed Munaf, president of TNTJ, Jeddah Region said, “We marked our country’s 70th Independence day in a unique style by organising a massive blood donation camp in Jeddah. We did that to Honor the heroes of India’s freedom struggle”.
On behalf of our 70th Independence Day, TNTJ is conducting worldwide blood donation camp. In Tamil Nadu TNTJ has conducted more than 30 donation camps and extending its wings to neighbouring states of Andhra and Karnataka. Overseas donation Camps will also be organized soon in Dubai, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Oman to mark this auspicious occasion, he added.
Mustafa, working with a company and a TNTJ Blood Camp Organiser, said that the organisation’s members decided to celebrate the country’s Independence Day in a meaningful manner and express patriotism in a way that could help others and save lives. We wanted to set an example to follow to other fellow Indians that instead of engaging themselves in cinema, dance, music and other cultural activities during Republic days and Independence days, as a dutiful citizens of India, even when we are away from India, we wanted to donate blood and save lives of the people who are in need.
A large number of expatriates mostly from Tamil-speaking community pledged to donate on a regular basis. The voluntary donors of more than 250 included Pakistanis, Sri Lankans and Bangladeshis in addition to the Indians from Kerala, Andhra, West Bengal and Karnataka. Saudis also participated in this drive.
Dr. Imad Saigh, Director, Lab and Blood Bank said, that a good number of Hajj pilgrims who suddenly fall ill or meet with accidents require blood and this contribution will go long way in helping such section of the pilgrims. Arrangements will be made with the hospital to dispatch the collection to be sent to blood banks in Makkah.
Dr.Majid Al Hardi, Director, King Fahd Hospital, Ghazi Al Gamdi, Deputy Director, Sami Al Johari and Blood Bank team informed that these kind of camps has created awareness among local Saudis and expatriates.