Ready for the road
June 14, 2023
- Health Ministry takes mobile blood collection unit to Jamaicans
KINGSTON, Jamaica. Wednesday, June 14, 2023: A mobile blood collection unit is the latest provision on offer by the National Blood Transfusion Service, as part of efforts to increase access to safe blood and blood products. The vehicle was today commissioned on the grounds of the Blood Bank, in line with the World Blood Donor Day observance.
“The unit is outfitted with four blood collection stations and will be manned by seven staff members. We invite organisations, institutions, and individuals, both private and public, to contact the Blood Bank to request the mobile unit for their school, workplace and/or community,” said Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, CD who delivered the keynote address at a ceremony held today.
This year’s World Blood Donor Day theme, “Give blood, give plasma; share life, share often” focuses on patients requiring lifelong transfusion support. Patients with sickle cell disease or other immunodeficiency conditions benefit from regular blood transfusions.
“We want to make a special appeal for persons to give blood. You can literally save someone’s life by donating at any of the 11 blood collection centres. So, all Jamaicans, 17 to 60 years old and who are in good health, you are invited to become a legacy donor,” the CMO added.
The ceremony also featured remarks from Khadine “Ms. Kitty” Hylton, attorney-at-law and blood donor advocate, and Marlon Nugent, a routine blood transfusion recipient.
Data obtained through the World Health Organisation Global Database on Blood Safety from 108 countries for the year 2018, shows that in low-income countries, up to 54% of blood transfusions are provided to children under 5 years of age, whereas in high-income countries, the most frequently transfused patient group is over 60 years old, accounting for up to 76% of all transfusions.
Blood is essential medicine. It is vital for people with health conditions such as severe anaemia, cancers, and those undergoing surgical procedures. Each year, on June 14, World Blood Donor Day is celebrated to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion.
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