WAM Sharjah, 29th April 2012 (WAM) -- The Ministry of Health honored an Omani donor for his distinguished donation services for all public and private authorities in Oman and the region for 26 years.

Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Practices and Licensing, and Chairman of the Blood Transfusion Higher Committee in the Ministry of Health, honored Ahmed Bin Hamad Al Khoroosi, the famous blood donator in the Sultanate of Oman.

Al Khoroosi's visit to the blood donation transfusion services and research center in Sharjah was based on the recommendation of Dr. Shahnaz Bint Nethaam Shah Al Balhooshi, Director of Blood Transfusion Directorate in Oman, to acknowledge the center's services and encourage community members for blood donation.

Dr. Al Amiri stated the importance of disseminating volunteering blood donation and raising the awareness of students, family and community members and worship places with the value of blood donation and its necessity for surgical operations and accidents.

Al Khoroosi was born in January 1963 in Bahrain and went to Oman at the age of 9 years old to complete his studies. In 1983, he had a terrible accident which led to his blood donation every three months on regular basis.

Al Khoroosi said: "I donated blood for the first time on 14th June 1986 in the sultanate of Oman and because I donated blood regularly I was honored to carry the blood donator of the year in Oman. I was also honored to obtain the membership of the blood donor directorate since 1996 and a blood service donor for almost half a century".

Al Khoroosi added that he encouraged his wife, daughters and brother to donate blood; my wife donated for 16 times and my brother for 54 times. He also makes regular visits to the government organizations and private companies and organizes awareness lectures about the importance of blood donation to the community members.

He also lauded the efforts of the ministries of health in the GCC countries and their strength in providing safe blood samples and components. Al Khoroosi wishes to organize a mobile exhibition that would introduce the community members with the importance of blood donation, break their fear barriers and enhance cooperation between the blood donators in the region.

WAM/TF