The Tribune

BLOOD drives at Abaco’s Cooper’s Town Clinic and the Marsh Harbour Parish Hall on the pre-Halloween weekend garnered a large number of willing participants for a record total of 70 donated pints of blood for the Princess Margaret Hospital.

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) and a medical team from PMH saw a massive turn-out for their October weekend blood drive, organised to help restore low levels at PMH. To encourage a healthy turnout BTC gave away phones, phone cards, tablets and refreshments.

The drive followed seven on New Providence and two on Grand Bahama.

BTC is recognised as one of the Bahamas’ most prolific supporters and instigators of public blood drives for the Princess Margaret Hospital.

Ten iVolunteer team members from Abaco joined BTC volunteers partnering with PMH medical staff for the initiative.

Andrew Hale, medical technology at PMH, said he thought BTC’s promotion of the event on local radio and across social media sites, encouraged the robust turnout.

“This is a record-breaking Blood Drive,” said Mr Hale. “We usually average between 20 and 50 units, we are very grateful. When someone needs blood in New Providence they often ask relatives in the Family Islands to donate so visiting the islands is a natural extension of for our Blood Drive programme.”