(CMR) Come August 1, the Cayman Islands Blood Bank is to resume full operations at the Cayman Islands Hospital as it closes its temporary off-site location at the Cayman Islands Red Cross building on Huldah Avenue.
The blood bank made the announcement in a release on Monday (July 27) which noted that the location would no longer be used as the building would need to be vacated for hurricane preparation purposes.
The satellite location at the Cayman Islands Red Cross was opened in March to bolster donations during COVID-19 restrictions.
Since then, the blood bank has logged record numbers of blood units collected and new donor volunteers.
Data from the Blood Bank shows that 69 units of blood were collected in March, 151 in April and 160 in May totalling the amount of 380 units.
Also, there were 11 new donors in March, 87 in April and 96 in May totalling the amount of 194 new donors.
Manager at the blood bank and the Health Services Authority's pathology laboratory, Judit Clarke said the numbers were “extraordinary” and surpassed the number of new donors the bank had around the same period last year and previous years.
To wrap up the blood bank’s final week at the Red Cross building, a special blood drive from Island Heritage will be held on Friday ( July 31) from 10am – 3pm.
“I want to commend those who have taken the time to contribute to these numbers. Your action is a true example of what it means to be Caymankind,” said Minister of Health Dwayne Seymour.
“I am also pleased to see the work that has gone into opening this satellite location,” he added.
Clarke also used the occasion to thank the Red Cross along with other sponsors.
We are very grateful to them for being so generous and accommodating by providing us with the space we needed at a most critical time during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also thank all of our community partners that have made this initiative possible,” said Clarke.
“It is community partnerships like this between the public and private sector that is key to Cayman’s success, especially during times like these. Keeping up our national blood supply is critical during this time, so I encourage those who are eligible to donate to do so as this is another way to help save lives in the community,” added Clarke
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