From The Voice UK

NHS present collection unit to the Ministry of Health and Wellness

THE MINISTRY OF Health and Wellness in St. Lucia is to receive a mobile blood collection unit vehicle, a donation from the National Health Service (NHS) and Blood and Transplant International Services in the UK. This is the result of collaboration between RAFFA/Blood4Life, NHS Blood & Transplant International Services, Diaspora NGO and the St. Lucia National Committee in the UK.

Bertram Leon SLPM (Saint Lucia Les Pitons Medal), Chairman of the St Lucia National Committee (UK), and a member of the St. Lucian overseas diaspora and Rudi Page, Global Diaspora Director, RAFFA International Development Agency UK and award-winning management consultant facilitated the relationship which resulted in the donation of the unit.

This is the fourth vehicle to be sent to the Caribbean. Other recipients include Jamaica, Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda.

The High Commissioner, His Excellency, Guy Mayers was present at the handover ceremony, which took place at the West End Donor Centre, Marylebone, London.

It is expected that this unit will assist in the drive to get more donated blood and to ensure that the blood bank at hospitals always has sufficient blood to handle emergencies and other needs.

Leon said:

“We hope that this Unit will be used wisely and help support the health service to perform several important health-related activities.”

Page stated:

“This is an important milestone for Diaspora involvement within the Global Health sector. This is the third mobile blood collection vehicle being sent to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) sub-region health sector, and the fourth mobile unit for the CARICOM region overall.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Chief Executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, Ian Trenholm, spoke about the impact that the limited supply of donors from the African Caribbean community was having on patients suffering from disease such as sickle cell, and urged for more donors from diverse cultural backgrounds. He also commented on how thrilled he was to collaborate with the respective charitable organisations to assist the health service in St. Lucia.

IMAGES:

PRESENTATION: Bertram Leon SLPM (Saint Lucia Les Pitons Medal)

COMING TOGETHER: From left – Bertram Leon SLPM (Saint Lucia Les Pitons Medal), Rudi Page of RAFFA, HE Guy Mayers, High Commissioner and Ian Trenholm CEO, NHS Blood and Transplant Division

For more on this story go to: http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/mobile-blood-bank-donation-st-lucia