Steward Health Care Malta (SHCM) is collaborating with the National Blood Transfusion Service on a campaign to encourage staff members at St. Luke's Hospital (SLH), Karin Grech Hospital (KGH) and Gozo General Hospital (GGH), as well as the general public, to donate blood throughout the month of June in support of World Blood Donor Day, which falls on 14 June.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has established that the 19th edition of World Blood Donor Day will carry the theme "Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and save lives", in order to emphasize the crucial role that voluntary blood transfusion plays in saving lives.

Informative posters on when and where one can donate blood in both Malta and Gozo are being displayed in the reception areas and consultation rooms of all three of Steward Malta's hospitals, to provide the public with the correct information on the process of a blood donation. An e-invite with a registration link to book an appointment was also sent to all employees to encourage them to donate blood on World Blood Donor Day. A number of employees from SLH and KGH called to give blood at the Blood Donation Centre in Gwardamangia, while GGH employees visited the Gozo donation centre at the Xewkija Berġa. 

Dr Nadine Delicata, President of SHCM, said: "Blood donations save lives. Many patients in hospitals around Malta and Gozo depend on the generosity of donors. Around 50 bags of blood are needed daily to meet the demands of local hospitals. Blood collected from donors is used in numerous medical scenarios from the treatment of cancers and trauma to major surgeries that require several blood components for transfusion."

Any adult between the age of 17 years to 70 years can be a donor, and all donors are screened prior to donation to maximize safety of the donated blood.

As another nod to World Blood Donor Day, SHCM is also keeping the tradition of lighting the façades of SLH, KGH and GGH red. This initiative is carried out each year to show gratitude to the thousands of Maltese and Gozitan donors who provide continuous support to the National Blood Transfusion Service as well as to encourage others to start donating blood or to do so regularly.

Those interested in donating blood can do so at the National Blood Transfusion Service in Gwardamangia, which is open daily between 8am and 6pm. Residents in Gozo can this month visit the Xewkija Health Clinic on 19 June between 8am and 1pm, or on 28 June between 1 and 5pm.