BY MIKE TUA
EVERY blood donations an individual makes really does count, so it is only right that they are recognized for their contributions to save countless lives in the country.
This year, a female lifesaver, Dr. Angella Tahani has been honoured with a certificate award of recognition by the Ministry of Health and Medical Service and Solomon Island Red Cross Society for being an active volunteer blood donor.
Dr. Angella, 44, who is a qualified dentist of Temotu origin but now settles in Makira, started giving blood as a high school teenager and recently completed her 15th donations.
Many women blood donors in the Solomon Islands don’t reach such significant breakthrough in their life time, making Dr. Tahani’s achievement more impressive.
“As a female, I don’t actually have any challenges when donating blood but as long as I am medically fit I can do that without any reservation or hesitations.
“I don’t think there are lots of challenges for women to give blood except when they are in a situation of get pregnant and when they are not fit enough to donate their blood. It’s not a huge challenge to give blood as woman because every woman that is medically fit can donate blood unless if they are extremely sick.
“I will continue my passion as a blood donor until I reached 65 years but it will depend entirely on my medical status – if I am health and medically fit I will continue to that far,” she said.
The awards ceremony was held at Mendana Hotel to acknowledge volunteer blood donors who have regularly and voluntarily donate their blood to save lives over the years.
Dr. Tahani is the first women to reach that level of accreditation of being an active female volunteer blood donor and supporter of the Solomon Islands Red Cross Society Blood Donation program in the country.
Her recognition is very important and absolutely vital in the contribution towards the nation’s health system including the blood bank services at the National Referral Hospital in the capital, Honiara.
The dentist recalled at first she really don’t understand the concept of voluntarily donating blood but because of Red Cross blood donation program of going around to communities to ask for donations.
“Now I have fully understood why I had to vitally give blood; there are actually a lot of people coming to the hospital to receive blood but the blood bank doesn’t always have the supply to meet their urgent needs.
“I personally give blood because most times on regular basis there is not enough blood in the blood bank. Therefore, I voluntarily gave my blood in case somebody would need it when they get sick or in need of blood transfusion,” Dr. Tahani said.
It is hoped that the donors will inspire other local people in Solomon Islands and encourage them to come forward to donate blood in any nearby health centres and hospitals throughout the country.
She strongly urged both the urban and rural population in the country especially those who are generally healthy and medically fit to actually come forward and save a life today by supporting the blood donation drive so that there is always blood available for a person hat needs it.
“There are always people who urgently in need of blood but at most times it’s not available for them.
“A lot of people don’t understand or maybe because they don’t know the great importance of donating blood but I would like to urge them to actually come forward and donate blood in order to save a life.
“There is always a miss-understanding or miss-conception that comes with blood donation but I would say that every person should always donate blood and they should never believe any myths that may distract them or hear any false information that might scare them from donating blood,” the female lifesaver said.
This year’s annual World Blood Donor Day theme of reflection and celebration is ‘Thank you for saving life’ and people throughout the country are urged to give freely and to give often because blood donation matters.
