Marian Academy hosts 10th annual Valentine Blood Drive
Several persons giving blood at the blood-donation stations yesterday at the Marian Academy.
Several persons giving blood at the blood-donation stations yesterday at the Marian Academy.

THE Marian Academy, held its 10th Annual ‘Valentine Blood Drive Saturday in its auditorium.
Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle was Principal of the Academy, Sister Marie Harper. According to the principal, this event was something the school has been doing for 10 years now, in collaboration with the National Blood Bank and the Red Cross society.

“The whole idea around the Valentine Blood Drive, is that it is a time of love and the most loving thing you can do is give blood, which is giving life,” said Sister Harper. “We have chosen this time of the year acknowledging just how many people need blood.”
The sister also asserted that this blood drive is not just a one-day event, since the students of the academy are educated about the importance of blood and giving blood prior to the drive. Additionally, the students are encouraged to bring as many eligible people (their family and older friends).

“We encourage recruitment,” she said, and added, “In the last week of January, each child is given recruitment slips, since most of them cannot actually give blood.”
She attested that each year, there is always an increase in the number of persons donating blood and an increase in the units of blood collected. This year, there were 12 blood-donation stations at the school — compared to the 10 stations last year — ascertaining the increasing number of supporters of the year.

The older students of the school were also integrated into this blood drive and these students themselves met the potential donors, carried out the prerequisite physical checks and signed up these donors. These students were educated about the process and given some training.
In addition to hosting the drive, students and teachers of Marian Academy provided all donors with sweet treats and mementos.

One donor, Francine Peters, said, “I really encourage everybody to do this [give blood] since, as they say, one bag of blood saves three lives.” She also highlighted that as an institution, it is really commendable that they carry out this exercise every year and she also voiced that other institutions should endeavour similarly.

The drive, which began promptly at 09:00 hrs, finished completely at around 18:00 hrs, after attracting hundreds of donors. The process of giving blood requires six simple steps from registering to checking one’s blood type and takes about 30 minutes to donate one unit of blood, which in turn can save three lives.
In 2008, the academy became the first school in Guyana to host a blood drive. Ever since, Marian Academy has been hosting this blood drive each year in February — on or around Valentine’s Day.

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