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Islamic Unity Society asks local community to give blood to commemorate Muharram

The Islamic Unity Society is encouraging the Muslim community in Birmingham to follow in the noble footsteps of Imam Hussain, and help others by giving blood.

Giving blood is something that approximately 1.3 million of us do each year. Each blood donation can help up to three different people and so collectively, UK donors are responsible for improving and saving the lives of millions of people.

In the UK, the demand for blood is constant and the National Blood Service (NBS) is keen to encourage more people to come forward as potential donors.
Certain rare blood groups are more common in certain ethnic groups, so encouraging people with rarer blood types to donate is a constant challenge for the NBS.
At present only 3% of regular blood donors are from Asian, African and African Caribbean descent, meaning there is a real need for members of these communities to come forward and donate.

With the help of the Islamic Unity Society (IUS), the NBS are hoping to encourage more Muslims to take the important life saving step and give blood.
The IUS has been supporting the National Blood Service in their quest for new ethnic donors since the launch of the Imam Hussain Blood Donation Campaign in 2006. This campaign is dedicated not only to encouraging members of ethnic minorities to donate blood, but also to increasing awareness for the importance of universal blood donation from all cultural communities.

Marwan Al-Dawoud, spokesperson for the Islamic Unity Society says: Giving blood is one of the most altruistic actions any human can do for another. It is so simple, yet it?s implications are vast and can really save lives. An important part of our faith as Muslims is to contribute to society and mankind as a whole. The Qur?an actually says that if anyone saved a life it would be as if he saved the life of the whole of mankind. We hope this event will help encourage and educate more Muslims about blood donation, and also display the peace-loving and caring nature of Islam.?

On Thursday 8th February 2007, as part of the holy month of Muharram when Muslims commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, the Islamic Unity Society are encouraging Muslims across the UK to give blood. Donors will be giving blood at National Blood Service centres in Manchester, London, Glasgow and Birmingham.

Jayne Harman, spokeswoman for the National Blood Service in Birmingham said ?We are delighted to be working with the local Muslim Community in promoting blood donation at this special time and thank them for their support. We have already had an overwhelming response to the Imam Hussain campaign and have appointments booked throughout the day at our donor centre on New Street. We look forward to seeing the donors who have already booked a time slot to give blood and hope that many more people will follow in their footsteps.?

You may be able to become a blood donor if you are aged between 17-59, weigh over 7st 12lb (50kg) and are in good health. Regular donors can keep on donating until they are 70.
For more information call the national helpline on 0845 7 711 711 or visit www.blood.co.uk