Donate blood, save a life

By Sarafina Sanerivi 24 March 2016, 12:00AM

You don’t have to be a doctor to save a life; you can do so by donating blood for those in need.

That was the mantra behind a Blood Drive organised by ANZ Bank in conjunction with the National Health Services and the Samoa Red Cross. 

The Blood Drive started on Tuesday with the staff and employees of the ANZ Bank donating blood. Yesterday, members of the public with the desire to donate blood were given the chance to do so.

The Marketing Manager for ANZ Samoa, Melissa Greig Callaghan, said the initiative was born four weeks ago after a meeting with their Corporate Responsibility Team. 

“Our Corporate Responsibility Team looks at ways in which we can help our community, and one of the things that came to our attention was that our National Kidney Foundation is doing dialysis, but they need more blood,” she said.

 “ANZ Bank has done it in the past, and I think the last time they had one was back in 2012 or 2013.”

The reason why they are having it this month is because June 14 is the International Blood Donation Day. And to donate blood, you need to have a three-month-break before you can donate again. 

“So we decided to have it this month so that we will be able to donate again on June 14,” said Mrs. Callaghan. “And if that is successful, I can say that the ANZ Bank will continue to have their Blood Drive every three months.”

A lot of people showed interest in the blood drive initiative, she added.

 “There are a lot of good reasons why people can’t donate but there are also a lot of good reasons why people can donate blood. I mean by donating means that you are able to save someone’s life, which is amazing.” 

To be eligible to donate blood, you have to be 16 years and older. You have to weigh over 50 kilograms and ensure that you are in good health and are not taking antibiotics. 

Tamali’i Gibbons, a Payment Support Officer at ANZ Bank, was one of the donors yesterday. It was not the first time Tamali’i had donated blood. 

“But the last time I donated blood was back in 2010,” she said. 

“I always have the desire to help those in need hence why I always donate blood. I understand that the blood you donate gives someone another chance at life and that one day that someone might be a close relative, a friend or even you. So I think it’s a very generous thing to do.”

Tamali’i believes that we all have the most precious resource and the ability to save someone’s life by donating blood. 

“It only takes a few minutes of your life to save a life and I am happy that I can help share this invaluable gift with someone in need,” she said.

The blood drive was held at level two of the ANZ Building opposite the Government Building. 

By Sarafina Sanerivi 24 March 2016, 12:00AM

Trending Stories

Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>