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Saipan urged to form blood bank
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Posted on Jan 27 1999
A visiting Rotarian challenged yesterday the local community to form a blood donors bank which can be tapped during medical emergency situations since the island is geographically isolated from the rest of the world.
Tom Ahillen, a businessman from Guam, said the measure will not only save lives but will also improve lives of those who donate blood. Moreover, shipping cost in transporting the blood is also reduced.
“It’s important for us. Important for the community. It’s important for every human being,” he told members of the Saipan Rotary Club during their weekly meeting at the Hyatt Regency Hotel yesterday.
The concept was first introduced in Guam during the early ’90s said Ahillen. He said the Rotary Club-Guam keeps a list of blood donors and their respective blood types.
In case of blood shortage, donors are asked to donate some. At the same time, they are asked to donate a certain amount of blood on a voluntary basis every two months.
About 2,400 units of blood are drawn every year in Guam through the program called a “Gift of Life” using the blood donors bank concept according to Ahillen.
These became very useful in saving the lives of the victims of the tragic Korean Air crash in 1997.
Ahillen said just recently the local hospital asked for blood in similar institutions in Guam for a man who got involved in an accident.
He said the local government could have been spared of spending for shipping the blood, saved time as well, if only it has its own bank of blood donors.
Rotary Club-Saipan officials said they will look into the feasibility of forming a blood donors bank here.
The Commonwealth Health Center’s blood supply is imported from Hawaii. The local hospital has the means to draw blood and conduct proper tests to determine if the donated blood is disease-free.
However, informed health sources said it does not have the means nor does it see the need to put up a blood bank.
