National blood service retools donor drive, plans Life Savers Club for loyal givers

The National Blood Transfusion Service—commonly called the Blood Bank—is reviewing how it attracts donors and will launch a Life Savers Club as part of that effort. The scheme is meant to honour people who give blood often on their own initiative and to enlist them to spread the word about donating.

State Minister for Health Krystal Lee outlined the approach yesterday when a multimillion-dollar contract was signed for upgrades to the National Chest Hospital's blood collection site in Kingston. She said the facility supplies roughly 22% of the nation's blood each year. She stressed that Jamaica should rely less on replacement donations and more on donors who return on a steady basis. She added that three more collection sites are to open within two months.