More than one thousand Fijians have now come forward to donate blood and help save lives as part of the Fiji Red Cross Society’s nationwide blood drive campaign which started in August.
The Society says Fiji’s blood supply has been impacted by the current COVID-19 outbreak and as the country continues to work towards a fully vaccinated population target to help fight COVID-19, support is still needed to help meet the blood demand of the Ministry of Health.
Fiji Red Cross Society Director-General, Ilisapeci Rokotunidau says it is really pleasing to see the huge turnout at all their blood drive locations across the country.
She says this is indicative of the fact that despite the current situation, people are still willing to donate blood to help save lives.
Rokotunidau further says the need for blood does not stop during a global pandemic.
She says every second, there may be a patient waiting for a blood transfusion to survive.
Society says over a hundred volunteers have undergone training and are now recruiting blood donors across the country via telephones.
They say this recruitment will increase the number of donors who will be available to provide blood, assisting hospitals in meeting the demand and ensuring it can be available for everyone who requires it.
Rokotunidau is encouraging people who are healthy, weigh above 50 kilograms and aged from 18 to 65 to give blood.
You can check out Fiji Red Cross Society Facebook page to find out if the blood bus will be located in your area or you can simply call the Society to register your interest.
The Society will pick you up and drop you off once you have completed giving blood.
