Blood Donation Should Be Regarded as a National Responsibility – State Minister

Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Hon. Krystal Lee, says blood donation should be regarded as a regular act of compassion and a national responsibility.

She is urging the first cohort of students in the ‘You’re Somebody’s Type’ Blood Donation Youth Ambassador’s Programme to become strong advocates for regular blood donation among their peers and communities.

“You are not running in anyone else’s lane but your own. You are creating a lane for yourself,” she told the students at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St. Andrew, on Monday (October 5).

She said the students have an important role to play in helping Jamaica transition from a culture where people donate blood only when someone they know is in need, to one where giving blood is viewed as a regular act of compassion and a national responsibility.

Ms. Lee said their position as the inaugural cohort gives them an opportunity to establish a strong foundation for the programme and inspire future generations of young Jamaicans to become blood donors and advocates.

“Years from now, when this programme has inspired thousands of young Jamaicans to become advocates and donors, it’s all traced back to this room,” she noted.

She challenged the ambassadors to use their influence to educate their peers, dispel myths about blood donation and encourage action, noting that blood cannot be manufactured and must, therefore, be donated.

“Every unit of blood collected represents hope and every donor recruited represents life that could be saved. You are, quite frankly, someone’s lifeline,” Ms. Lee said.

The State Minister also emphasised that the need for blood is not limited to older people, pointing to situations involving childhood cancer, sickle cell disease, surgery and other medical emergencies.

She urged the students to use multiple platforms, including social media, school activities and other forms of communication, to spread the message, while reminding them that “impact lasts longer than popularity”.

Ms. Lee said the Ministry, through the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), will provide the ambassadors with information, toolkits and other support as they organise blood drives in their schools.

She disclosed that five schools are participating in the first phase, with another 12 schools expected to join the programme in December, when a pinning ceremony will be held, and encouraged the students to “lead with purpose” as they help to shape a stronger culture of blood donation in Jamaica.