Ailyn Agonia
Doha
MORE than 200 donors took part in a blood donation drive organised by the Filipino group Bantay at Kasanggang OFW International Qatar Chapter (BAK) at the Hamad Medical Corporation's Blood Donation Center on Friday.
Many of the donors are members of 23 community groups that supported the initiative which was organised by BAK under the leadership of its Executive Vice President and Overall Chairperson of the project Marivic Vergara and other BAK officers.
According to BAK Treasurer Engineer Jennifer Fortin, the successful initiative was in response to HMC's announcement for blood donors.
"BAK is actively contributing to the Filipino community through various outreach initiatives. This is our first time to conduct a blood donation campaign as our way of contributing to other communities in Qatar. By early next year we are planning to hold a medical mission. We hope that the groups that supported us in this blood donation drive will also join us in that project," Fortin told the local media.
Among the participating groups in the project are Angel Radio Sacrifice, BMKQ, Best Friends Forever, ELITE, Familia 2017, GPII-AC, HERO Qatar, KAMPI, MFID, NGG, OFW Kabida International, Overseas Brethren, PEACE, Pinoy Family Believers, QPHH, Republika Supremo, Selda Kinse, The Filipino Community, The Good Friends, The Paradise, WSO and the Alliance of Filipino Journalists in Qatar.
The BAK has nearly 100 members and was founded in 2015. Among its earlier initiatives includes free livelihood seminars for distressed Filipino workers temporarily under the care of Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Doha. The group is planning another outreach programme in POLO on July 28.