The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) is urging its employees to donate blood to the Red Cross mobile blood bank in a bid to regain top spot as the government department with the most blood donations.
The Department of Defence narrowly beat DIAC in the 2009-10 Red Cross Blood Service Corporate and Community Challenge by about 100 donations, pinching the title DIAC held for previous six years.
A departmental spokesman said DIAC had always been generous with blood donation in the past because it was aware of just how important it was to donate blood.
“Every whole blood donation given can potentially go on to help save three lives,” the spokesman said. “This being the case, DIAC alone potentially saved nearly 3000 lives in the Canberra region in 2009-10, an effort we should all take pride in.”
Speaking for the Department of Defence, Major General Paul Alexander said Defence was also proud of its efforts as the leading blood donor in the ACT.
“We hope our employees carry on this wonderful effort and continue to donate this vital resource and support the Red Cross Blood Service,” General Alexander said.
Red Cross Blood Service (RCBS) ACT Donor Centre Manager Yetty Mitford-Burgess said last year the ACT collected more than 31 000 donations, including whole blood, plasma and platelets.
“This year, the target is 38 000 donations or 18 per cent of the NSW/ACT collection target,” she said.
“The ACT needs more than 700 donations per week to help provide the 26 800 donations required by Australians every week.”
All local blood and blood by-products are used within the ACT area or sent to NSW when needed. The plasma collected makes 17 different products including medicines for oncology patients and immunisations for children.
Mrs Mitford-Burgess said the last challenge raised a third of the total blood supplies needed in Canberra.
“This would be impossible without the help and enthusiasm of our wonderful donors,” she said.
The RCBS mobile blood bank will be outside the DIAC office in Chan Street in Belconnen from September 6-17.
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