The St. Lucia Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA) recently partnered with the Blood Bank to undertake a blood drive activity. This activity was aimed at ensuring the doctors also play their part in addressing the heightened need for blood in Saint Lucia. The St. Lucia Medical and Dental Association executive has called on its medical colleagues to participate in the initiative as it will set a positive example and encourage participation from the general public.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sharon Belmar-George assumed the position to lead by example in this initiative. Dr. Belmar-George also commended the SLMDA for hosting this activity given the current challenges with maintaining a sustainable blood supply to manage patients on island. “This initiative raises awareness on the importance of giving blood and the fact that one pint can save up to three lives. We also want the public to know that when you give blood, that is not for only accident victims and persons with trauma but persons requiring general surgery: our sickle patients, mothers who may delivering babies. We never know when we may be the ones who need blood. So, we want the public to come out and not just today as part of the drive but at least three to every six months, whenever you can. Make it your duty to give.”
Member of the SLMDA and Consultant Surgeon Dr. Dawit Kabiye expressed great pleasure to be part of this initiative and called for participation and collaboration of organisations to help with closing the gap in blood donations. “It takes more than the Blood Bank staff; it takes more than the SLMDA; it takes the whole community and everybody participating. It is an area where the ministry and a lot of efforts need to be made because the donors are the population. Basically, you need to have structured drives and continuous drives. So, every time you use blood, you go to zero and we need to be replenishing. It requires investment, it requires a lot of sensitization for people to be able to donate.”
The Blood Bank encourages the public to donate blood to save lives and to give back to the community.