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Last Updated: Dec 29, 2011 - 2:18:31 AM |
Group photo: Rotarians, PMH Blood Bank Representatives, and Doctors
Hospital's Blood Bank Representatives
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Nassau, Bahamas - The two local blood banks at the Princess Margaret Hospital and Doctors Hospital in the Bahamas are the proud recipients of a new state of the art bloodmobile destined to travel around the Bahamas and family islands to collect blood donations and ultimately save lives. All of the blood collected from donations will be shared equally between the two local hospital blood banks.
The “Rotary Clubs of the Bahamas Blood Mobile” came to fruition by a joint fund-raising effort by the Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas, District 7020, Rotary Clubs of Florida, District 6980, Rotary Clubs of Georgia, District 6900 and the Rotary International Foundation which was funded by a matching grant from Rotary International and was one of only 16 such competitive grants provided worldwide this year. The project enables Rotary to present a fully equipped vehicle for the two hospitals to work together for the benefit of both blood banks and the country. Rotary will also serve as a catalyst to provide a new dynamic for getting blood donations.
The unique custom vehicle built by specifications from OBS Inc. in Ohio, the Rotary Clubs of the Bahamas Bloodmobile was driven down through Georgia and Florida to pay a visit to the Rotary Clubs that participated in the funding of the bloodmobile. The first of its kind in the Bahamas and District 7020, the Rotary Clubs of the Bahamas Blood Mobile is destined to save lives, one drop at a time through the efforts of Rotary and the local hospital blood banks. Designed to host blood drives in Nassau and through the family islands by ferry service, the bloodmobile will reach more of the Bahamian' population to collect blood and provide education about healthy living.
DPM Brent Symonette making the first blood donation for the Rotary Clubs
of the Bahamas Blood Mobile.
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Currently there is a national blood shortage in the Bahamian community. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) standard, the country should collect blood from 5% of the population. The required needs for the Bahamas would be 16,000 pints each year. Unfortunately, the local blood banks only collect 5,000 pints each year. the results of the national shortage equates to prolonged hospital stays, delayed surgeries, people being treated without the required units of blood, cancer patients unable to receive necessary replacements, and ultimately persons dying from inadequate supplies. Also, there are no reserves in the event of a disaster or mass casualty. The Rotary Clubs of the Bahamas Bloodmobile will be the best alternative in reaching the population in their own communities and tapping into the tourism market. The bloodmobile would also assist in retrieving voluntary, non-remunerated donation in addition to replacement donation.
Many thanks to the other organizations who have contributed to the Rotary Clubs of the Bahamas Bloodmobile: Tropical Shipping, Sunshine Insurance, Tavares & Higgs, Bahamas First, and Creative Spot Design.
To save lives and help patients receive the much needed blood for their treatments, donate blood today. To schedule a blood drive at your place of employment, please call 302-4750.
Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide with nine Rotary Clubs in the Bahamas. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self.
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