“Giving is in your Blood” is a new campaign launched today and running across the Middle East and North Africa aims to increase blood donations throughout Ramadan. The campaign was created as part of Facebook’s Hack for good initiative that aims to develop technological solutions to address real social challenges. It is the result of a partnership between Facebook and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The IFRC in 12 Arab countries is participating, including Iraq, Jorda, Palestine, Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Egypt! Because of fasting in Ramadan, and traveling people in the summer, blood banks in the Arab World tend to have shortages of donations.
Thus, the campaign urges more to donate their blood during Ramadan, ‘Giving is in your blood’ aims to direct people to give blood at the authorized blood donating centers to step up blood donation during the summer season when a shortfall is expected. People who are fasting can donate blood, but only after they have broken their fast at sunset.
“Blood saves lives. But a lack of blood can mean the opposite. Across the region, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are part of the advocacy for or the collection of voluntary unpaid blood donations. We hope this campaign will help fill the gap in blood donations that we normally see during Ramadan. We are encouraging people to donate blood after they have broken their fast at sunset. We are also hoping to recruit blood donors who might start donating in Ramadan and maybe continue throughout the year.” stated Rana Sidani Cassou, IFRC MENA Head of Communications.
In a similar manner, Christine Harb, Regional Head of Marketing – MENAP, Facebook, commented ““As we prepare to celebrate the Holy Month of Ramadan with our community this year, we also wanted to shed light on the reality of decreased blood donations this month in the region, while using Facebook as a tool to bring people together for a good cause. We are proud to collaborate with the IFRC and Leo Burnett Beirut to empower our 172 million Facebook users in the region with the region to contribute to ‘Giving is in your blood’ campaign and we look forward to seeing its positive impact on communities.”