Over 100 blood donors some for more than 30 years were honoured on World Blood Donor Day by the Ministry of Health.
In an entertaining evening at the Good Life Club in Little Bay on Wednesday, June 21, 2017, men and women who give the gift of life with each donation were celebrated.
Hon. Minister of Health Delmaude Ryan acknowledged that risk increases at night as the island is cut off in case of emergencies. Having donors into the blood bank is a tremendous gift and they go without public recognition.
“We celebrate you who keep yourself healthy to be able to continue giving blood. I encourage young people to become donors,” the minister said.
Dorothea Hazel, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health shared that her first role at Glendon Hospital was as a medical technologist. “I am heartened to see some of the usual suspects still on the donor list. Emergency has no respect for time and place. Thanks for giving without counting the cost.”
Secondary Care Manager Arlene Ponteen said most of the donors come voluntarily. She gave a special thanks to female donors who are usually more hesitant to give blood.
Ponteen shared that 20 years ago she got to experience how important it was to have blood donors after she almost died during a C-section. She has the very rate O negative blood and that night she went through all of the donors on island who had the same blood type.
Kimora Daniel, the Senior Medical Technologist said giving the gift of blood is priceless.
Along with musical renditions and a short skit, donors were presented with gifts in honour of the number of times they have given blood. The top donors were Lexvern Fenton and Valencia Lewis, who cut the celebratory cake right before the evening turned to music and food.
Many lives have been saved and changed because of blood donors.
