Les Mamelles supports health campaigns |24 July 2014

The Les Mamelles health centre will next week host two activities in support of the Ministry of Health’s campaigns.

The ministry’s newly acquired mobile blood transfusion van will be in action at the Les Mamelles health centre on Tuesday July 29, 2014 at 9am, as the Ministry of Health begins yet another nationwide campaign to educate the public on the need to give more blood.

Donated by the World Health Organisation last month and costing over R1.4 million, the van is equipped to receive and store blood on the spot.
“The Health Care Agency conducts about 15 operations per day,” said nurse coordinator Ramona Bristol of the operating theatre.  
“About 2 to 3 of those operations, on average, need blood transfusion.”

“Blood transfusions are also needed for many other anemia-causing medical conditions,” said the director of the clinical lab, Prosper Kinabo, who is ultimately responsible for the blood transfusion service.

“We give out about 15 units of blood per day to the different wards of the Health Care Agency, but we only receive about 5 units per day from our regular blood donors. There is therefore a daily shortfall of about 10 units.”

That is why this nationwide campaign to receive and store more blood is so important for the Ministry of Health.

Mr Kinabo added that the mobile blood transfusion van is built to receive and store up to 20 units of blood in its own container. However, the blood transfusion team carries extra containers along, so that as many units of blood as people are willing to give can find its way to the blood bank.

Also at the Les Mamelles health centre on that same day a community health exhibition will be underway, as part of the ministry’s continuing ‘My Health, My Responsibility’ campaign. The campaign was launched in February 2014 and culminated with the ‘Health of Our Nation’ conference last April.

Officials of the Ministry of Health have said that the campaign seeks to educate the Seychellois on the need to take more responsibility for their own health and to adopt healthier lifestyles.