Today, June 14th the world is celebrating World Blood Donor Day. The event raises awareness for people to donate blood. It is a day to celebrate and to thank all those blood donors for their voluntary action to donate blood and to encourage those who have not yet themselves donated blood.

According to the National Blood Transfusion Service, in the last six months they had 10,897 callers to give blood, and due to various reasons for deferrals, 8,469 donations were collected. The newsroom hopes that these numbers will continue to increase during the next six months.

The World Health Organisation’s theme of this year’s campaign is “safe blood for all”, to raise awareness of the universal need for safe blood in the delivery of health care. Also to encourage more people all over the world to become blood donors and to donate blood regularly.

Transfusion of blood and blood products save millions of lives every year. Transfusion of blood is essential for those women suffering from bleeding associated with pregnancy and childbirth; children suffering from severe anaemia; patients with blood and bone marrow disorders, victims of trauma, emergencies, and accidents; as well as patients undergoing advanced medical and surgical procedures.

Last Wednesday, the Malta Independent visited the Mobile Blood Drive Unit at the Skyparks Business Centre. The bi-annual blood drives are organised by SkyParks, to make it easier for the whole of the Malta International Airport community. Janice Scicluna, Front Desk Coordinator at SkyParks Business Centre said that such bi-annual blood drives encourages others to find the time or muster the courage to donate blood. “Such blood drives makes it easier for the whole of the Malta International Airport community, which encompasses some 3,000 stakeholders, to spare 10 minutes out of their busy day to donate blood. We would like to encourage others to face any fears they might have and to be heroes for the day by being part of our ninth blood drive.”

Speaking to donors on the day, they all felt a sense of satisfaction by donating and helping others. “I donate blood at least twice a year, and to think that the ten minutes it takes for me to donate blood, I am saving a life is such an amazing feeling.”

Caroline Farrugia, Senior Staff Nurse expressed that such Mobile Blood Drive. “If you have around five people from every entity, we would have around 50 donors just in a day. I continue to encourage different entities to organise such initiatives.”

As we see more businesses taking up clean-up campaigns, blood donating should also be on the priority list - donor

 

"As more businesses take up clean-up campaigns and activities during such a sensitive time of environmental awareness, blood donating should also be on top of the list", said Alison Casha, a regular blood donor.

Alison, social media specialist for Air Malta began donating blood over 20 years ago. "Back when I used to work for another company, I had suggested that the Social Committee organise a blood donation activity on behalf of the company and that is where it all started for me." When asked whether she could give a figure of how many times she had donated blood, she said that she didn't keep a record!

"Recently I am unable to regularly donate blood as I travel long-haul every year, and you need to leave a period of 12 months in between when you come back from your travels till you can donate blood once more, however I still contribute in other ways, by means of my job in social media"

"There is always a need for blood and the fact that you are contributing to saving a life is priceless." She said that donating blood is extremely important and that she hopes more people would take the initiative to become a blood donor. "If we are healthy, I do not see why people would not donate blood; people need to overcome the fear of blood/needles and to find time to do so, because ultimately donating blood helps and saves so many lives."

Apart from donating blood, Alison also assists the Blood Transfusion Centre with complimentary social media services as part of her personal Corporate Social Responsibility. "We are always finding ways of reaching out to companies and organizations to generate such activities for their staff, it should be on every company's CSR agenda because it's free, it's rewarding and it brings people together." She said that she hopes more businesses take the initiative to organise more blood donation activities as this truly saves lives. "I think it should be on our calendar, if not regularly, at least once a year people should donate blood. Ultimately those who cannot donate can still help by following the official page facebook.com/bloodmalta and sharing urgent requests for blood donations. Every little help counts!"