World Blood Donor Day on June 14 - Le Méridien Fisherman’s Cove staff donate blood |15 June 2018

To commemorate World Blood Donor Day on June 14, the Health Care Agency organised a blood drive yesterday at Le Méridien Fisherman's Cove Hotel in Bel Ombre.

Around 20 staff of the tourism establishment voluntarily gave blood during this one-day initiative.

It was the chief executive of the Health Care Agency (HCA), Dr Danny Louange who officially launched the blood drive as well as the agency's week-long of activities to commemorate World Blood Donor Day.

In remarks to launch the activities, Dr Louange emphasised the need to raise awareness on the importance of donating blood regularly, especially by young people.

"Blood transfusion has a vital life-saving role in all aspects of medicine including for maternal and child care, for victims in road traffic accidents, for victims suffering various traumas and for victims in natural disasters," said Dr Louange.

“Recruiting and retaining blood donors, not only improves long-term safety and efficiency of our blood supply but it also promotes safe and healthy lifestyles," Dr Louange stated.

He further added that although Seychelles has achieved universal health care and a safe blood service, the country's main challenge remains the consistent availability of blood.

"As we celebrate World Blood Donor Day, I call on every healthy person in Seychelles from every professional society, from every civil organisation, from every private sector institution to come forward to ensure our country has a safe and efficient blood supply."

This was later reiterated by Lisette Julie, a lab technician at the blood transfusion centre, who described to the press the reality of blood shortages in the country.

"We are currently facing a situation where the demand for blood supersedes the units of blood we are receiving per day," said Ms Julie.

"A large number of these donations came from friends or family members of patients needing blood. The centre often encourages these people to instead donate blood regularly – that is every three months – but most opt not to."

In 2017, only 1,578 units of blood were donated at the Seychelles Hospital against a demand of 3,500, and the demand keeps increasing each year.

Forty-five-year-old Roy Moses, who works in the purchasing section at Fisherman's Cove, was one of the first staff member to give blood during yesterday's drive.

"I'm a regular voluntary blood donor and I feel that more people should also do so. Giving blood is a big responsibility but one that saves lives," Mr Moses confided.

Most people between the ages of 18 and 64 can give blood. Exceptions include those who have travelled to a malaria-endemic country within four months of donating, pregnant women and those with high blood pressure.

World Blood Donor Day is this year being celebrated under the theme ‘Be there for someone else. Give blood. Share life’ to further emphasise voluntary blood donation throughout the year by highlighting fundamental human values of respect, empathy and kindness.

The accompanying photos were taken during yesterday’s bold drive.