Organisations recognised for donating blood   |09 March 2023

Genevieve Rene accepting the trophy on behalf of Absa Seychelles (Photo contributed by Ministry of Health)

● Donors urged to become regular contributors

The blood transfusion unit is appealing to blood donors to become regular donors to help contribute towards a sufficient amount of blood in its bank.

The officer in charge of the unit, Joanne Michel made the appeal following a short ceremony last Friday where the unit in partnership with the Red Cross Society of Seychelles, thanked the top eight organisations, which through their blood drives and donor education between June 2021 and June 2022, contributed a significant amount of blood to the Seychelles Hospital’s blood bank.

The organisations were Absa Seychelles in first place, which donated 50 units of blood; followed by the Seychelles Business Studies Academy (SBSA) and the National Institute of Health and Social Studies (NIHSS) in second place with 48 units each. Desroches island’s employees donated 46 units, whilst Constance Lemuria Resort contributed 41 units towards the blood bank. There were three organisations with 32 units each, namely the International School of Seychelles (ISS), Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) and the La Digue hospital.

They each received a trophy sponsored by the Red Cross Society of Seychelles and a certificate, presented by the chief executive of the Health Care Agency, Dr Danny Louange, during a short ceremony at the Sheikh Khalifa Diagnostic Centre.

Blood is an important resource, both for planned treatments and urgent interventions and can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer, with a higher quality of life as well as support for complex medical and surgical procedures.

Speaking to Seychelles NATION, Mrs Michel said it was through those drives that the unit managed to secure enough blood for the hospital. “Two or three blood drives weekly are really helpful as it boosts up our stock in the blood bank,” she explained.

These drives are ongoing and as at last Friday, the situation at the blood transfusion unit was stable, according to Mrs Michel since there were 17 units of blood for the O+ group, which can cater for around 50 people and 13 units of blood for A+ blood group, which can cover around 40 people. Mrs Michel explained that the two blood groups are the most common ones for Seychelles’ population.

“That is the amount we have ready for use. We also have reserved units that have already been cross matched and are ready for a patient. We have 27 units already reserved for the O+ group,” she explained.

It should be noted that blood’s lifespan is a maximum 42 days and the platelets components, whose main role is to prevent and stop bleeding, can last for five days.

“That is the problem with blood and this is what we want people to understand. The blood drives are very helpful as we need constant donation, so that is why we are appealing to people to become regular donors. Now we have some people giving blood once or twice and then they stop,” said Ms Michel.

The blood transfusion unit said last week’s event was therefore to thank the organisations and encourage them to continue with their blood drives,

Top donor, Absa Bank Seychelles, described the trophy as a lovely gesture, which was deeply appreciated and served as a reminder to them to keep doing what they were doing. The organisation which said its philosophy was “we are an active force for good in everything that we do”, had held several blood drives over the years, when their colleagues or families were in need and has always responded to the unit’s call for blood.

The company’s managing director, Nazim Mahmood said from these events, blood drives have become embedded in their culture of giving back.

“It is thanks to our colleagues that we received the trophy and it is a meaningful testament to the power of long-term sustainable commitment to a cause,” said Mr Mahmood.

He added that with the amount of units contributed Absa staff could “have helped at minimum 200 people between 2021 and 2022 alone – and for this we are immensely proud of them; for actively living our values and for being a Force for Good within the country”.

The blood transfusion unit received a total of 1,912 units of blood in 2021, and 2,364 units for 2022. Ms Michel said their target for 2023 is 2,500 units, adding that although there is a positive increase in the amount being given, there is also an increase in demand.

The trophy presentation ceremony, is an annual event and it was the second one organised.

Patsy Canaya