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– Scotiabank & Bloodbank Appeal to Youth for 2010 Blood Drive

June 8, 2010 - ‘Four hundred units in two days’ – that’s the target of the Scotiabank Annual Blood Drive to mark World Blood Donor Day 2010. The Scotiabank Group is partnering with the Blood Bank for the second year in a row, having launched its inaugural drive last year 2010 and collecting 570 units of blood over a one week period.

This year both organizations are hoping to have huge support from young people aged 17 years and over; as this year, the international body is focusing on the young with the theme “New Blood for the World.” Jamaica’s Blood Bank continues to face tremendous challenges in meeting their required targets to meet the demand from the healthcare system.

The 2010 blood drive begins on international blood donor day, Monday, June 14 at the Girl Guides headquarters on Waterloo road in Kingston though to Tuesday June 15, at Scotia Centre in Downtown Kingston.

“Our theme is especially relevant this year as we celebrate International Year of the Youth, says Sandra Brown Thomas – public relations officer with the Blood Bank. We are targeting youth all across the island and have invited several youth groups to join us. Already we have several youth groups which have endorsed the drive and pledged their support. These include the National Centre for Youth Development, Girl Guides Association, the Police Youth Club, 4H-Clubs and the Social Development Commission’s youth clubs.

Scotiabank has also endorsed the importance of youth participation. The group’s public relation’s manager, Simone Hull, remarked that it is strategic to encourage the youth to develop a habit of donating blood particularly in Jamaica where many adults are averse to donation. “We strongly believe that if we develop this culture of young people voluntarily donating blood on an annual basis, then we would be in a less difficult position as an island each year.”

Similar to last year’s inaugural drive Scotiabank has invited several celebrities, particularly from the entertainment fraternity to endorse the drive and encourage their fellow Jamaicans to donate blood. Shaggy, Tessanne Chin and Milk led the entertainment fraternity in the 2009 donation drive. Several other artistes from the Big Yard and headline management groups also supported the initiative. This year, a special connection was made to young artistes and has resulted in the Bank’s Blood Drive being formally endorsed by Nicky B, Konshens and Natel and the Craig from Voicemail.

For the two days of the drive the collection will begin at 7:00am and end at 5:30pm.On Monday, June 14, the opening day of the drive, donors will be treated to an entertainment package and product sampling.