Aidan Curtis
THE people of Mount Gambier / Berrin are being encouraged to give blood when possible to help treat those diagnosed with blood cancer.
As part of World Blood Donor Day on Wednesday, June 14, Leukaemia Foundation has put the call out for people to sign up to donate blood.
Leukaemia Foundation general manager of health services Kathryn Huntley said only 3.5 per cent of Australians donate blood, so it was important to encourage more people to roll up their sleeves.
“And especially for those in the Mount Gambier region, being across where those blood vans come to the area and considering their eligibility to sign up and be a donor [is vital],“ Ms Huntley said.
“For our blood cancer patients, blood donations are a vital part of their treatment and help them overall in their recovery to live a life beyond blood cancer.“
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood spokesperson Emily Granland said Mount Gambier / Berrin residents have been very generous in giving blood.
“In the past 12 months, they have made 1522 donations, saving up to 4,500 lives together,“ Ms Granland said.
“The Lifeblood pop-up donation centre visits Mount Gambier six times a year.
“This has increased from four visits in 2022 because of the incredible response from local donors.“
While she acknowledged that generosity, Ms Huntley said giving blood should be an ongoing commitment and not a one-off experience.
“People with blood cancer need it ongoing, it’s not as simple as one blood transfusion will help,“ she said.
“Their treatment wipes their blood counts, which makes them feel fatigued and tired, as well as the risks of bleeding.
“It actually takes 18 Australians to donate blood every month just to treat that one person needing those blood products.“
The next Lifeblood pop up visit to Mount Gambier / Berrin will be from July 31 to August 4.