BASSETERRE, St. Kitts –- ST. KITTS joined the rest of the world in observing ‘World Blood Donor Day’ 2014, when the local blood bank held one of its scheduled drives yesterday (Jun. 14) at Independence Square.
The blood drive was aimed at attracting volunteer donors and those who may have a fright for needles and donating blood.
Laboratory Manager at the Joseph N France General Hospital, Candace Gumbs told SKNVibes Health that such a drive is held annually on June 14 in collaboration with the Music Festival Committee.
“Today’s blood drive, we started at 10 a.m. and hope to go up until 1:00 p.m. We have had a slow start! Our population tends to shy away from anything medical, so we are trying now to encourage persons to come out and become volunteer donors because you may never know when it is your life that you’re saving or a family member,” Gumbs said.
She explained that the bank plans its national blood drive around three major events on the calendar, namely “Carnival, Music Festival and Independence”.
Gumbs also explained that it is the World Health Organisation’s goal to have all blood banks worldwide practice volunteer blood donations.
From this back drop, the local blood bank has begun to practice replacement blood donation, with the number of volunteer donors increasing overtime.
“The blood bank has now begun practicing replacement blood donations. However, since 2012 we have been transitioning from replacement donation. So we have moved from one percent volunteer blood donation to about 15 to 20 percent. We are slowly escalating to 100 percent voluntary blood donation as the World Health Organisation in 2020 intend to have all blood bank around the world practice 100 percent voluntary donation,” Gumbs added.
The Lab Manager stated when it comes to sensitisation, they have been working with media outlets to have the drive promoted so that it could meet everyone.
“For one, we have sought the help of the media. We have had social media such as SKNVibes and other broadcasting companies just to tell them what the process is, the purpose of blood donation and how effective the donation is.”
Gumbs noted that they have developed a brochure which debunks all the myths and mistruths surrounding blood donations.
Representatives from the blood bank would soon be embarking on a sensitisation programme within schools so that the word would be spread from the children to adults.
“The younger they are the more knowledgeable persons are. The younger ones would be able to spread the word to their parents who may have a fear of needles and coming to donate…We are going into the schools basically to educate the population,” she explained.
