Over 45 BOV employees responded to the bank's first blood donation drive organised for 2015. Although January is commonly associated with colds, flues and other viruses, this did not dishearten the bank's employees to save more lives during a blood donation drive which was organised in collaboration with the National Blood Transfusion Service just outside BOV's Head Office.
It is estimated that one bag of blood can save up to three lives. Tony Micallef who is in charge of Marketing and Public Relations for the National Blood Transfusion Service explained that "last year in the Maltese Islands, around 18,000 blood bags were transfused. The demand for blood is likely to increase this year due to more major orthopaedic surgeries planned.
Initiatives undertaken regularly by organisations like Bank of Valletta are therefore very welcome and encouraged. It is as satisfying for us as it is rewarding for the donor. Giving the gift of life is one of the most fulfilling feelings one can experience."For Bank of Valletta this is no new experience as a minimum of two blood donation drives have been organised annually for the past few years. The National Blood Transfusion Unit appeals to other organisations, irrespective of their size, to contact them in order to organise similar initiatives with the aim of saving more lives.