News Releases

Give Blood, Save a Life UWI, Ministry of Health and NCRHA collaborate on Blood Drive

For Release Upon Receipt - April 28, 2023

St. Augustine


 

The UWI St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago. Friday, April 28, 2023- The latest commemoration activity of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) for its 75th anniversary is its “UWI Blood Drive”. The St. Augustine Campus is partnering with the Ministry of Health and the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) to stage the activity on Saturday, April 29, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex Blood Donation Centre. It coincides with the 27th Voluntary non-remunerated blood drive by The UWI Blood Donor Foundation (UWIBDF).

 Dr Kenneth Charles, Senior Lecturer in Haematology in the Department of Para-Clinical Sciences at The UWI St. Augustine Campus Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) and chairman of UWIBDF, notes that this event demonstrates the university’s commitment to voluntary non-remunerated blood donation (VNRD). VNRD donors give blood voluntarily, without pressure from the healthcare system, patients, or relatives for nothing that could be considered payment in cash or kind. They also donate more regularly.

 “Currently, blood is collected from family replacement donors at hospital-based donation centres where close friends and family donate blood to be claimed for a named beneficiary,” said Dr. Charles. The Ministry of Health is in the process of transitioning to 100% VNRD with strong support from The UWI. “If there are insufficient donors, the beneficiary will not receive the quantity of blood they need. Voluntary non-remunerated blood donation is a safer alternative that ensures blood is collected and available to treat anyone in need (for example, persons needing monthly transfusions or emergency transfusions due to road accidents),”.

 Blood pressure screening, blood glucose testing, BMI and general health information will be available to donors. The public is urged to support the drive. One donation can save three lives.

 Interested persons can make an appointment using the following link: https://forms.gle/5mJqd2nPUKapUKUm8

 Visit The UWI Blood Donor Foundation Facebook page for more information

 End.

  About The University of the West Indies

 The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for the past 75 years.

 From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Monain Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hillin Barbados, Five IslandsinAntigua and Barbuda and itsOpen Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

 The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world.

 The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean in the World University Rankings, it is also in the top 25 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

 2023 marks The UWI’s 75th anniversary. The Diamond jubilee milestone themed “UWI at 75. Rooted. Ready. Rising.” features initiatives purposely designed and aligned to reflect on the past, confront the present, and articulate plans for the future of the regional University.

 Learn more at www.uwi.edu 

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