IOT workers donate blood |21 August 2014

Sixteen employees of the Indian Ocean Tuna Limited (IOT) have donated blood as part of their company’s  Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The activity took place last Thursday on the company’s premises.     

The firm’s general manager Joram Madnack was also present with words of encouragement to his staff for this noble gesture.

A statement issued by the HR department of IOT said: “Blood is vital to sustain the life of each and every one of us. Everyday in the media we hear calls for people to donate blood to maintain our local blood bank because everyday there are patients in our community who require blood transfusion to recover from surgery, serious accidents or illnesses. There is no substitute for blood. Volunteer blood donors are the only source and it is for that reason IOT believes we should contribute to this noble cause and save lives.”

The group of employees was a mix of first time donors as well as regular donors.

Even though IOT has a large work force and the percentage who donated blood did not necessarily reflect that, the communication and the public relation person Barney Adeline expressed his satisfaction as this is the first time the company organised such event and also taking into account that some employees were wary about donating their blood.

“More people will come next time, after seeing their colleagues being brave and helping out,” Mr Adeline said, adding that staff of the company will continue giving blood at least three times a year.

The director of clinical pathology laboratory at the Health Care Agency, Prosper Kinabo, said that the ministry appreciates when organisations donate blood because there is always a demand for blood at the hospital.

“With our mobile transfusion van we can move to different places and it would be great if other organisations such as hotels, construction companies and the community as well come forward and make their contribution to the blood bank,” he continued.

He also pointed out that “as donors give blood, their body releases more cells and they are helping someone in need.”

We were also informed that as part of its blood collection campaign, the Ministry of Health collected six units of blood on Wednesday at the Anse Royale Hospital and 18 units the day before from the youths.

“Every week, we are moving from one health centre to another to get more blood,” Mr Kinabo concluded.

A blood donor can be 18 years old up to 60 years old and one can contact the Blood Transfusion Unit or any health centre for more information.

The accompanying photos show some of the IOT workers donating blood.