Jamaica Red Cross launches 'Club 25' in observance of World Blood Donor Day

Youth volunteers from the Jamaica Red Cross showed their commitment to voluntary blood donation at the launch of the Jamaica Red Cross Club 25 programme held on Wednesday June 13.

The launch at the Knutsford Court Hotel was held in observation of World Blood Donor Day on June 14 under the theme “Safe Blood for Safe Motherhood.”  

Andre Johnson, National Youth President of the Jamaica Red Cross, in his remarks at the launch encouraged young people to participate in the programme as it is an avenue through which they can positively impact someone’s life.

”We need to possess a caring nature as the actions of one individual can determine the future of another,” he noted.

Dr. Evadne Williams, Director of the National Laboratory Services on behalf of the National Blood Transfusion Services, partner in the programme, lauded the Jamaica Red Cross for the initiative.

“We are pleased that your organization seeks to launch Club 25 – a programme geared towards motivating the next generation to give blood as well as promoting healthy lifestyles,” she mentioned in her greetings, which was read by Ms. Yvonne Clarke, Director General of the Red Cross in Dr. Williams’ absence.

The programme was officially launched by the President of the Jamaica Red Cross, Dr. Jaslin Salmon.

Club 25 is a programme designed to establish a cohort of regular, safe, non-remunerated blood donors among young people, by encouraging them to give 20- 25 blood donations by the age of 25.

Club 25 is designed for young people not only to give blood to save life, but also to attend blood centres, learn about healthy lifestyles and share what they have learned with their communities.

By promoting and acknowledging positive lifestyles, they will achieve a reduction in the number of new HIV infection among programme participants.

The organization will use its youth volunteer base as the initial target group for the programme and eventually extend it to other youth organizations in the island.

Already approximately 12 youth volunteers from the Kingston & St. Andrew branch of the Jamaica Red Cross have signed up to be part of the programme and donated blood.

World Blood Donor Day aims to raise awareness of the need for safe blood, to thank and honour those who donate blood and to encourage current and potential donors to commit to regular voluntary blood donation.

This year the international theme Safe Blood for Safe Motherhood serves to highlight how voluntary blood donors can play a vital role in saving the lives of thousands of mothers and their newborns.