After an “overwhelming” response to an urgent appeal for Cayman blood donors to help hurricane-ravaged Jamaica, the local blood bank has called a halt to donations for the time being.
“We are currently at capacity and we’re no longer accepting any form of donations by appointments or walk-ins at this time,” said the Cayman Islands Blood Bank’s Damion Ferron.
“In the near future, if we do need additional blood to support our neighbouring country, we will send out an advisory,” he added.
Since the appeal started, the blood bank has received 228 units of donated blood, some of which was flown to Jamaica last week as part of emergency relief efforts from the Cayman Islands following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, which claimed 32 lives on the island.
The Cayman Islands Health Services Authority, which runs the blood bank, said it sent 51 units of red blood cells and 72 units of plasma to the hurricane-stricken Jamaica, which had issued a call for blood donations.
Last weekend, Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness, in a press briefing, said the hurricane had disrupted routine blood collection and storage operations across several parishes on the island.
‘Impressive public response’
The Cayman blood bank on Thursday, 6 Nov., announced it was placing a temporary pause on all donation following the “impressive public response” from its existing and new donors.
“The pause will allow the department to process existing supplies and ensure all donations are used efficiently and safely,” the blood bank said in a statement.
It added that donations are expected to resume in the coming weeks, and the public will be notified once collections have resumed.
“It was an overwhelming response from the public,” Ferron said. “We here at the HSA blood bank appreciate all the blood donors who came in, and the new donors.”
Cayman’s new chief medical officer, Dr. Hilary Wolf, said the Jamaican health ministry had been very grateful for the assistance it had received from Cayman’s blood donors.
“I have been in touch with their chief medical officer in Jamaica, [Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie], and she has expressed her heartfelt thanks to the people of Cayman,” she said.
Wolf added that Cayman’s shipment of blood products to Jamaica last week had “helped save numerous lives”.
She explained that the Jamaican health ministry had advised that local people on the island were now donating blood “and that’s why we’re putting a pause” on calling for donations from Cayman.
She noted that, with Cayman’s blood bank being well stocked at the moment, it was ready to supply other neighouring Caribbean nations if needed. “It is not going to go to waste, it will be used, and we are so grateful,” she said.
Once the blood bank resumes accepting donations, anyone who wishes to give blood can find details of how to do so at its website, bloodbank.ky.
Additional reporting by Compass TV’s Mark Westin.
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