IDF and Magen David Adom representatives at the ceremony
IDF and Magen David Adom representatives at the ceremonyMagen David Adom

At a ceremony held at Magen David Adom’s (MDA) Blood Services Center in Tel Hashomer, certificates of honor and awards were granted to IDF units who excelled in blood donation in 2016.

Attending the ceremony were IDF Chief Medical Office Brigadier General Dudu Dagan, Assistant Chief of Staff to the Chief Medical Officer Lt. Col. Dudi Zuckerman, MDA Director General Eli Bin, MDA Director of Blood Services Professor Eilat Shinar, MDA VP of Operations Yossi Cohen, and representatives of the excelling units. During the ceremony, awards and certificates of honor were granted to the three leading units in blood donation in 2016 in 12 different categories.

In 2016 248,905 blood units were donated in Israel. 66,467 of these - a full 25% - were donated by IDF units in different bases.

Twelve units won first place in their relative categories: The Home Front Command, Air Force headquarter, the Galilee Division, the Armored Corps "Iron Tracks" Brigade, the Golan Heights Brigade, the Givati Rimon Unit, the Galilee Logistic Unit, the Lachis Training Base, the School for Infantry Corps Professions and Squad Commanders, the Golani's Barak Briagde, the Home Front Rescue Division's Kedem Battalion, and the Air Force Base.

In second place were the Central Command and the Navy.

"Recently, we have been exposed to the tremendous power of blood donations to saving lives," Dagan said. "Blood donation is of utmost value and is our moral duty toward the soldiers and civilians of Israel."

"IDF units donated in 2016 over 66,000 blood units that act as one quarter of the blood donations in Israel, thanks to soldiers of values, moral commanders and the medical staff in charge of blood donations within the IDF in routine and emergency, from traffic accidents to war.

"I am confident that the IDF will continue to be a significant contributor in the future. I thank you, soldiers, commanders and excelling units for the values you represent."

Shinar said, "A sngle blood donation can save the lives of three people, therefore, you, IDF soldiers, in your donation were able to save the lives of 200,000 people in Israel in 2016 alone."

"You, commanders, soldiers, are an example of pure, significant generosity. True volunteering spirit, without expecting anything in return and out of a single purpose – to give life to the sick and wounded who require blood transfusions to recover."

"Blood donation is the privilege and duty common to all civilians of Israel," Bin said. "Blood units donated by IDF soldiers and commanders act as a quarter of all blood donations in Israel. This is a critical amount which allows MDA’s Blood Bank to operate on challenging days and ensure it has the required amount of blood unit inventory."

"The IDF’s tremendous contribution is a direct result of the spirit of commanders who work on instilling values within the IDF commanding rank. I call IDF soldiers and commanders to continue and donate blood, and the excelling units to continue leading in the field. I would like to thank, on behalf of MDA and the civilians of Israel, all the units, the soldiers and commanders who enlisted and donated from their own blood to saving lives.