Give Blood and Make the World A Healthier Place

Give Blood and Make the World A Healthier Place

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.  13 June 2020.  Everyday life-saving blood transfusions are needed in hospitals and emergency rooms across the Caribbean region.  Persons who donate blood, play an important role in saving lives through their gifts of blood. 

Blood donations are used for transfusions necessary to improve as well as save the lives of many. Blood and blood products can help patients suffering from life threatening illnesses and is essential for supporting the delivery of maternal and neonatal care, medical and surgical procedures.

“Every year, thousands of people receive lifesaving blood transfusions, a process which would not be possible without voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors. Blood donation is a community responsibility. There is a great chance that someone you know or even you yourself may need a blood transfusion at some point,” said Dr. Joy St. John, Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).

Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, health services could run the risk of shortages in blood.   There is no known end date or time for the pandemic.  As such, this could create potential shortages of blood for transfusions due to a significant reduction in voluntary blood donations.

According to the Pan American Health Organization, the risk of transmission of the new coronavirus through transfusion of blood and components is most likely minimal. Respiratory viruses have never been reported to be transmitted through blood or blood components, and to date there have been no reports of COVID-19 infection in blood recipients.[1]

World Blood Donor Day takes place every year on 14 June.  In addition to acknowledging blood donors, it is a day to raise awareness about the global need for safe blood and how everyone can contribute.  The theme for 2020 is “Safe blood saves lives” with the slogan “Give blood and make the world a healthier place”. 

CARPHA urges all eligible Caribbean people to become a voluntary blood donor, if possible or encourage others to donate and Member States to invest in the systems and infrastructure to support an increase in blood donations and blood donors. 

Blood can be donated by anyone meeting their country’s health criteria for donating blood.  Persons should contact their Ministry of Health or blood bank service for information

Tags

Categories

News, New at CARPHA

Share

Rating

0 ( 0 reviews)
  • Recent
  • Popular
  • Tag
  • CARPHA Encourages Persons to Know their Blood Pressure

    CARPHA Encourages Persons to Know their Blood Pressure

    0 Comments

    Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, May 16, 2014: The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is calling on persons to know their blood pressure, strive to keep it healthy or lower it. This is in keep...
  • CARPHA and CTO Launch Tourism and Health Programme

    0 Comments

    CARPHA and CTO successfully launched the regional tourism and health programme and conducted an awareness and discussion workshop on Friday May 2, 2014 in Aruba. The keynote address was given by the M...
  • CARPHA’s new Chairman of the Board

    CARPHA’s new Chairman of the Board

    0 Comments

    Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, October 02, 2013: The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is pleased to announce the appointment of the Honourable Colin Riley, Minister of Health of Montserrat...
  • Saint Lucia Joins Regional Project to Build Public Health Capacity

    Saint Lucia Joins Regional Project to Build Public Health Capacity

    0 Comments

    Castries, Saint Lucia, September 04, 2014. The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Human Services and Gender Relations, in collaboration with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), is launching the Ca...
  • New CARPHA lab to help region respond to health threats

    New CARPHA lab to help region respond to health threats

    1 Comments

    The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) moved today one step forward in its mission to provide strategic direction in analyzing, defining and responding to public health priorities of CARICOM, in ...
  • GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP

    0 Comments

    The Center for Global Health of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the U.S., in collaboration with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), St. George's Un...
  • CR-FELTP Trains New Mentors in Jamaica

    CR-FELTP Trains New Mentors in Jamaica

    0 Comments

    Caribbean Regional Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (CR-FELTP) Trains New Mentors in Jamaica The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) hosted a four-day workshop in Kingston, Jam...
  • Risk of Ebola in the Caribbean

    Risk of Ebola in the Caribbean "Low"

    0 Comments

    Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, August 06, 2014: The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) says the risk of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) being imported to the Caribbean is low. Executive Direct...
  • Risk Communication Training to Help Senior Health Officials Better Manage Health Threats

    0 Comments

    Risk Communication Training to Help Senior Health Officials Better Manage Health Threats Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, June 19, 2016: "Risk communication is an important tool in managing health th...
  • Influenza Activity in the Caribbean

    Influenza Activity in the Caribbean

    2 Comments

    Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, September 26, 2013. The Caribbean, like other regions in the Americas, experiences seasonal influenza activity. Improved health monitoring by Ministries of Health i...