Blood donors recognised on World Blood Donor Day |15 June 2023
Five volunteers of the Red Cross Society of Seychelles (RCSS) were recognised for having donated blood for over seven years, in a ceremony to commemorate World Blood Donor Day yesterday.
According to RCSS, the day provides a special opportunity to celebrate and thank voluntary blood donors for their gift of blood, which has become a major focus for action towards achieving universal access to safe blood transfusion.
RCSS said that every single donation is a precious lifesaving gift and repeated donation is the key to building a safe and sustainable blood supply.
During yesterday’s ceremony at the RCSS headquarters in Providence, the five volunteers were presented with a certificate of appreciation, cash, hamper and memorabilia from Airtel Seychelles, Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority, Four Seasons Hotel, H. Savy Insurance.
Harry Dingwall, who has been a blood donor for 32 years now and has donated over 31 pints of blood was among the five being recognised for his selfless act.
He has called on more people to come forth and become blood donors.
Dilan Bastienne, a Red Cross youth who has been donating blood since he was 19 years old, said that after having donated for 10 years, he now sees the benefits.
For her part the secretary general, Marie-May Esparon, has called on the participation and engagement of the communities to help ensure a sustainable blood bank.
The slogan for 2023 World Blood Donor Day campaign is ‘Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often’. It focuses on patients requiring life-long transfusion support and underlines the role every single person can play, by giving the valuable gift of blood or plasma. It also highlights the importance of giving blood or plasma regularly to create a safe and sustainable supply of blood and blood products that can be always available, all over the world, so that all patients in need can receive timely treatment.
The photo shows four of the five RCSS volunteers who have clocked over 7 years donating blood. (From left to right): Harry Dingwall has donated for 32 years, Dilan Bastienne (10 years), Jimmy Moustache (7 years) and Julinio Nourrice (7 years). Absent in the photo is Cedrick Francourt who has been giving blood for 12 years.
Contributed