A trypanophobic’s experience of donating blood in Qatar…

I've no shame in admitting that all my life, I've been trypanophobic — a person who's scared of syringes and injections.

But a few months ago, I learned that a little kindness and understanding can go a long way in putting such people at ease. And how did I find out? By donating blood.

It may seem strange that a person suffering from trypanophobia would agree to get a huge needle stuck on his arm for close to 40 minutes. But it was a conscious decision as I wanted to address my fear.

It was a blood donation drive, by the Hamad Medical Corporation. In the beginning, someone asked me a lot of questions about my food habits, smoking/drinking activities and medical conditions. Satisfied, they took me inside a huge, air-conditioned bus.

I got a panic attack after seeing the zig-zag bed and equipment for blood extraction. But the sister assigned to take my blood, a Filipino national, started talking to me kindly. She gently put me at ease and walked me through everything she was doing.

Hearing the processes strangely calmed me down. She told me the exact moment she was going to jab the needle, and I was thoroughly prepared for it. A moment of pain, and I was asked to keep flexing my palm. I saw blood flowing through a clear tube into a translucent plastic bottle.

I had just conquered my fear, and in turn, helped someone, somewhere, with life. 

If you want to donate blood in Qatar, here is more information about it.

* Hamad Medical Corporation collects blood on a daily basis, often 50 to 60 donations a day.

* There are four blood types — O, A, B and AB.

* A donor should be aged between 18 and 60, be in good health and not have any chronic heart, lung or circulatory illnesses.

* The donor should weigh more than 50kg and must not be anaemic, dependant on insulin or hypertensive.

* Donors should keep doctors informed about all kinds of medication they take. Pregnant, lactating or menstruating women are NOT encouraged to donate blood.

* Medical professionals will briefly interview the donors. Sometimes, a donor’s travel history will be checked to ascertain that they have not been to places where malaria and tuberculosis are prevalent.

* Donors should bring with them valid identification, like health cards.

* They should get enough sleep and also should not drink or smoke two hours prior to donation. 

Interested donors can go directly to the Blood Donor Unit near the Hamad General Hospital.

Tel: 44391081, 44391082.

Check here: www.hmc.org.qa