The Ministry of Health (M.O.H.) and Samoa Red Cross Society (S.R.C.S.) have launched a public blood donation program to meet the increasing demand by hospitals.

Donated blood will be passed on to the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital (T.T.M.) in Upolu and the Tuasivi Hospital in Savai’i.

It is understood a spike in the number of victims rushed to hospital from motor traffic accidents and violent crimes, is a major factor behind the decision of the M.O.H. and the S.R.C.S. to put together the public blood donation program. 

A team from the S.R.C.S. set up at the Faleula Uta Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (L.D.S.) on Wednesday night and will go nationwide in partnership with the L.D.S. The L.D.S. church will host the teams at the selected villages.

S.R.C.S. Health Coordinator Aiopo Koreta Wulf emphasised the importance of blood donations in an interview with Samoa Observer.

"Blood is life if our body supposedly runs out of blood then there is  no life. Not only is it life but is a form of transportation in our bodies, it carries around water and oxygen for us to function well. Unfortunately, it carries good and bad things as well,” she said.

One blood donation can save up to three lives according to Aiopo, who said the donors will also find out about their blood types as well as whether they have sexually transmitted infections (S.T.I.) or human immunodeficiency virus (H.I.V.). 

"Your donated blood will then be tested at our laboratory to inspect diseases such as STD, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and syphilis. You will be informed if you have an infection and all documents and results are confidential to the Ministry and Red Cross.”

The blood donation drive is a year-long program which both the M.O.H. and S.R.C.S. believe will save a lot of lives.

Aiopo appealed to members of the public to go to the different venues and donate blood if they are able to and healthy. 

An L.D.S. youth and a volunteer in the blood donation program, Faleula Uta, appealed to the public to 

"Stop killing you're wasting blood but donate and save lives,” he said.