National Blood Service Gets Mobile Collection Unit
By: , January 3, 2015The Key Point:
Photo: Mark Bell
Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson (centre), receives the keys to a new mobile blood collection unit from founder of the United Kingdom (UK)-based Angel Foundation, Angelia Christian (2nd left). Occasion was the official handing over of the unit on Friday (January 2), at the headquarters of the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) in Kingston. Others (from left) are: Chief Executive Officer of Renewal Advancement Financial Freedom Autonomy (RAFFA) International Development Agency, Rudi Page; Deputy British High Commissioner to Jamaica, Julia Sutherland; and Jamaica’s High Commissioner to the UK, Aloun Ndombet-Assamba.The Facts
- Speaking at the handing over ceremony on Friday (January 2), at the NBTS’ Slipe Pen Road headquarters in Kingston, Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, said the gift will ensure consistency in the collection of blood, which is a vital element of healthcare delivery.
- Minister Ferguson said improvement of the country’s blood service is a vision that is shared by all, and called for increased collaboration with stakeholders to boost the consistency of blood supply and enhance donor pools.
The Full Story
The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) has received a boost, with the donation of a mobile collection unit by the United Kingdom (UK)-based Angel Foundation and several other partners.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony on Friday (January 2), at the NBTS’ Slipe Pen Road headquarters in Kingston, Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, said the gift will ensure consistency in the collection of blood, which is a vital element of healthcare delivery.
He said utilization of the mobile blood unit will increase access to donors, who would not be able to reach the blood collection centres.
“This mobile blood collection unit will strengthen the work of the National Blood Transfusion Service in increasing the number of voluntary non-remunerated donors, who remain the safest source of blood worldwide,” he noted.
Minister Ferguson said improvement of the country’s blood service is a vision that is shared by all, and called for increased collaboration with stakeholders to boost the consistency of blood supply and enhance donor pools.
He noted that blood is needed for the treatment of persons with severe injuries, cancer patients, persons with bleeding disorders, and “to save the lives of some of our pregnant mothers.”
The Health Minister also hailed the work of the NBTS, noting that it has established a strong track record of providing good quality blood and blood products to the health sector.
The Angel Foundation is a charitable organization that was founded by Jamaican, Angelia Christian.
The mobile blood collection unit was procured by the Renewal Advancement Financial Freedom Autonomy (RAFFA) International Development Agency, through sponsorship from Grace Foods UK, the Ministry of Health, the Jamaican High Commission in London, and other partners.
