Blood Drive at Tappoocity Plaza, Suva
and Sugar City Mall, Lautoka
The youth of Sai Prema Foundation embarked on yet another journey to collect some much needed “liquid love” - Blood. The youth teamed up with the Fiji National Blood Services Department from the Ministry of Health and conducted a day long blood drive on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at Tappoocity Plaza, in the heart of Suva, and one in the western part of the island at Sugar City Mall in Lautoka in Fiji.
This service activity was prompted by a recent plight of the Ministry of Health and Fiji National Blood Service highlighting a shortage at their blood bank in Suva. Considering the need of the hour, a blood collection drive was organised.
The day started early for the youth who took on the challenge of coordinating and hosting the blood drive. Keeping the norm in mind, the youth also arranged for fresh fruit, sandwiches, biscuits and fruit juice for the donors who were nourished upon completion of their blood donation. While the medical professionals from the Fiji National Blood Services conducted everything, from registration of patients to screening of the patients, to conducting iron tests and down to the overall blood extraction; the youth decided to make themselves useful and encouraged people to donate blood by highlighting the need and the benefits, especially to hesitant, first time donors walking the busy streets of Suva and Lautoka.
In addition, the youth took advantage of this opportunity and decided to have a chat with the donors to advise them of post-donation care such as, drinking lots of water and having a proper meal, avoiding any physical exercise for the next 24 hours and so on. This was again acknowledged by the donors and the youth were commended for the “love and care” they showed!
The “Be a Hero - Central” campaign successfully collected 32 pints of blood in Suva and 22 pints of blood in Lautoka on that day. These 52 pints of “fresh blood” will be used to save at least 156 patients as just 1 pint can save up to 3 lives!
Overall, another opportunity to serve well was taken by the youth of Sai Prema Foundation and yet another community service was offered at ‘Thy Lotus Feet’!