The theme for World Blood Donor Day this year is 'More blood - More life', a theme reinforcing the urgent need for more people all over the world to become life-savers by volunteering to donate blood regularly.
For one potential donor it's been a long journey to do just that. Karen Binns, a nurse from Buderim on the Queensland Sunshine Coast, is serving among a volunteer crew of 450 people from around the world onboard the world's largest charity hospital ship in the West African nation of Sierra Leone. She is working with the eye team on the Africa Mercy where free surgeries are provided to restore eyesight to thousands of people in one of the world's poorest nations.
The hospital ship is on a ten-month assignment to Sierra Leone, and with six operating theatres there is often a big demand for supplies of blood. But where does the blood come from? The crew call it a walking blood bank. When crew members arrive onboard, they have the option to become blood donors. If they agree, they are screened and advised that when the need for blood arises, they could be asked to donate right away.
Because of a lack of storage space on the tightly-packed ship, blood is not stockpiled for use in emergencies. And because all crew members on the Africa Mercy are volunteers they have sacrificed to help those in need in West Africa. There is never a shortage of donors when a call goes out.
More than 200 crew members have signed up to be blood donors. Out of those, 162 have been cross-matched with 95 patients who would potentially need blood for their surgical procedures. A total of 37 units of blood have been donated.
Mercy Ships has carved out its own method in blood donation. Many lives have been saved due to the 'walking blood bank'. Such a unique and effective means of donating blood gives the donor a whole new perspective on saving a life. When you can shake the patient's hand after a transfusion of your blood has saved his or her life it is a priceless moment.
Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978 providing free health care and community development services to the forgotten poor. Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor. Working in partnership with local people, Mercy Ships empowers communities to help themselves. The result is a way out of poverty.
The emphasis is on the needs of the world's poorest nations in West Africa, where the world's largest charity hospital ship Africa Mercy provides the platform for services extending up to ten months at a time. Mercy Ships works on land-based projects in Sierra Leone in partnership with other organisations, while teams also work in several nations of Central America and the Caribbean. Mercy Ships Australia, one of 14 international support offices is based on the Sunshine Coast.
For information and contact details of Mercy Ships, click here