News Releases

UWI supports True Voluntary Blood Donation World Blood Donor Day 2023

For Release Upon Receipt - June 14, 2023

St. Augustine


 A participant donates blood at the recent “UWI Blood Drive” in April

ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. Tuesday, June 14, 2023– The following is a message from Dr. Kenneth Charles, Chairman of The University of the West Indies Blood Donor Foundation and Senior Lecturer in Haematology in the Department of Para-Clinical Sciences at The UWI St Augustine Campus Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) on the occasion of World Blood Donor Day 2023.

As we celebrate World Blood Donor Day 2023 and reflect on its theme, “Give Blood. Give plasma. Share life. Share often”, the role of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) in promoting these ideals brings great pride to us all. We have done well. 

The University of the West Indies Blood Donor Foundation (UWIBDF) was established in 2011 to promote blood donation in the community. From its initial membership in the Faculty of Medical Sciences it has used research, information- sharing and practice to encourage other UWI students and their communities to become voluntary non remunerated blood donors (VNRDs).  VNRDs donate blood which contains plasma. They are the safest blood donors and each donation saves up to three lives.  

It began hosting VNRD blood drives with the North Central Health Authority in March 2015. From 13 donors at our first drive we grew to over 100 per drive within three years. These events have gone on unabated during the COVID-19 crisis, making a valuable contribution to the country’s blood supply at its time of greatest need. 

Dr. Kenneth Charles, Chairman of The University of the West Indies Blood Donor Foundation addresses Faculty of Medical Sciences student volunteers at the recent “UWI Blood Drive” in April

The UWI and its UWIBDF are pleased and proud to be a part of the Ministry of Health’s national “True voluntary blood donation” programme which aims to attract 20,000 VNRDs nationally within 2-3 years.  This initiative is gaining traction in our schools, our communities, our military organizations, our sporting organizations and even our mas bands. With the continued input of The UWI we expect numbers to increase exponentially to achieve this target.

On World Blood Donor Day and on behalf of the UWIBDF, I thank all citizens who have contributed to this national effort. The UWI through its Blood Donor Foundation reaffirms its commitment to the cause. 

If you are a healthy person of suitable weight, and age, you can register to become a donor by visiting the UWIBDF website You can also encourage others to donate voluntarily through the Ministry of Health Blood Bank Services. It is a great time of national need, please do your part.

For more information about The UWI Blood Donor Foundation, please visit http://www.uwiblood.org/ or their Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/UWIBlood  

 

Photo (L-R) Mr.Trevor Khan, Ministry of Health Manager of Change and Institutional Strengthening; Professor Indar Ramnarine, Deputy Principal of The UWI St. Augustine Campus and Dr. Kenneth Charles, Chairman of The University of the West Indies Blood Donor Foundation at the recent “UWI Blood Drive” in April

END

Notes to Editor

As part of The University of the West Indies 75th anniversary recognition in 2023, the St. Augustine Campus partnered with the Ministry of Health to host a UWI Blood Drive on Saturday 29th April 2023 at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Blood Donation Centre in Mt. Hope.

To read more about World Blood Donor Day please visit : https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day  

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. 

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 10 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). In the latest World University Rankings 2022, released in September 2021, The UWI moved up an impressive 94 places from last year. In the current global field of some 30,000 universities and elite research institutes, The UWI stands among the top 1.5%.

 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, it is also in the top 20 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. 

For more, visit www.uwi.edu.

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