Steward Health Care Malta is encouraging staff and the public to donate blood in support of World Blood Donor Day, which was celebrated on the 14th of June.
SHCM said that it is collaborating with the National Blood Transfusion Service on a campaign to encourage staff members at the Gozo General Hospital (GGH), St. Luke’s Hospital (SLH) and Karin Grech Hospital (KGH) as well as the general public, to donate blood throughout the month.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has established that the 19th edition of World Blood Donor Day will carry the theme – Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and save lives. This is in order to emphasise the crucial role that voluntary blood transfusion plays in saving lives.
Informative posters on when and where one can donate blood in both Malta and Gozo are being displayed in the reception areas and consultation rooms of all three of Steward Malta’s hospitals, to provide the public with the correct information on the process of a blood donation.
An e-invite with a registration link to book an appointment was also sent to all employees to encourage them to donate blood on World Blood Donor Day.
A number of employees from SLH and KGH called to give blood at the Blood Donation Centre in Gwardamangia, while GGH employees visited the Gozo donation centre at the Xewkija Berga.
“Blood donations save lives. Many patients in hospitals around Malta and Gozo depend on the generosity of donors,” said Dr Nadine Delicata, President of SHCM.
She explained that, “around 50 bags of blood are needed daily to meet the demands of local hospitals. Blood collected from donors is used in numerous medical scenarios from the treatment of cancers and trauma to major surgeries that require several blood components for transfusion.”
Any adult between the age of 17 years to 70 years can be a donor, and all donors are screened prior to donation to maximise safety of the donated blood.
As another nod to World Blood Donor Day, SHCM is also keeping the tradition of lighting the façades of SLH, KGH and GGH red.
SHCM explained that this initiative is carried out each year to show gratitude to the thousands of Maltese and Gozitan donors who provide continuous support to the National Blood Transfusion Service as well as to encourage others to start donating blood or to do so regularly.
Those interested in donating blood can do so at the National Blood Transfusion Service in Gwardamangia, which is open daily between 08:00 and 18:00. Residents in Gozo can this month visit the Xewkija Health Clinic on 14 June between 13:00 and 17:00, on 19 June between 08:00 and 13:00, or on 28 June between 13:00 and 17:00.
Photo: The façade of Gozo General Hospital lit red in gratitude to donors who provide continuous support to the National Blood Transfusion Service