Blood Bank to drive collection with Mobile Unit
June 13, 2023
KINGSTON, Jamaica. Monday, June 12, 2023: The National Blood Transfusion Service will commission its mobile blood collection unit on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 as part of its activities for World Blood Donor Day. The annual global observance raises awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion.
This year’s theme, “Give blood, give plasma; share life, share often” focuses on patients requiring lifelong transfusion support and underlines the role each person can play by giving the valuable gift of blood or plasma.
The mobile blood collection unit forms a part of the entity’s larger response efforts to increase access to safe blood and blood products. Additionally, the Ministry will later launch the procurement process for a second blood collection vehicle to support the work of the National Blood Transfusion Service.
“The Ministry will also see the addition of five blood donor sites to increase the total number islandwide to 16. Last year, the Spanish Town Blood Collection Centre opened on the grounds of the Spanish Town Hospital,” says Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie.
To increase collection efforts islandwide, members of the public are invited to donate blood at the World Blood Donor Day celebratory event on Wednesday, at the Blood Bank, 21 Slipe Road, Kingston or visit their nearest collection centre.