Top ten blood donors recognized

The regular voluntary donations of blood by Vincentians did not go unnoticed by the staff at the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Blood Bank, who recognized the top ten donors of 2008 with certificates of appreciation as part of World Blood Donor week.{{more}}

At a small ceremony at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital last Monday, the donors, who gave blood without being asked in most cases, were praised for their vital contribution to society, while being encouraged to continue doing so.

Considered among the bank’s “favorite people”, they were lauded for playing the important role of giving gifts of life, each time they donated blood (at least one pint on each visit).

Top donor of 2008, Jenitha Williams told SEARCHLIGHT that she has been giving blood on a regular basis for many years. Williams, who gave one pint of blood every two months last year (a total of six pints) said that as long as she is able to donate blood, she will.

“It don’t matter who the blood go to, I have been asked by strangers and I don’t have a problem with that at all.”

She, along with staff at the blood bank urged others to come forward and voluntarily give blood, in an effort to assist the institution in reaching its 100 per cent voluntary donor mark; they are currently at 7 per cent.

The nine other top donors of 2008 are Michael Thomas, Roger Davis, Shannon Crosby, Berres Quammie, Donald Culzac, Kathleen Williams, Alain Weekes, Merle Derrick and Keown Mandeville.

The donors will be the featured on the Ministry of Health’s 2010 calendar. They will be the feature for the month of June, which is the considered World Blood Donor month.

The week culminates this Sunday, World Blood Donor day.