NBTS Goes After Blood in Mandeville June 14

The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) will observe World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) on Wednesday (June 14) with a blood-collection campaign in Mandeville, Manchester.

The blood drive will be held at Golf View Hotel, 5 ½ Caledonia Road, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Director of the NBTS, Dr. Veronica Taylor, told JIS News that the choice of location was deliberate, as the NBTS pays tribute to the team in Manchester, which has made significant strides in improving the blood stock in the parish.

“We have chosen Manchester as our host parish, based on improved blood collection in this location. This is the result of work done by the Southern Regional Health Authority and community partners and stakeholders, such as Dr. Donna-Marie Gray-Henry and the team at Mandeville Regional Hospital, the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, Northern Caribbean University, Knox College and Percy Junor Hospital,” she noted.

In 2016, the Mandeville Regional Hospital and partners formulated the ‘One Love, One Blood’ Mandeville Team, which executed its first major blood drive on May 30.

More than 150 units of blood were collected on the day.

The team, which was recognised by the NBTS for their efforts at WBDD in 2016, has committed to continuing the community effort.

The WBDD 2017 is focused on blood donation in emergencies, under the slogan ‘What can you do? Give blood. Give now. Give often’.

The campaign underlines the role that persons can play in helping others in emergency situations, by giving the gift of blood. It also focuses on regular blood donation to maintain a sufficient blood stock in the blood bank.

Mandeville Regional Hospital has now extended its opening hours at the Blood Collection Centre, which are 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays; and 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. on Fridays.

The NBTS is responsible for the collection, testing and distribution of all blood and its by-products across Jamaica.