When Aldo Busuttil gave blood for the first time in 1998, little did he know that 14 years down the line he would be making the 10,000th donation at the mobile blood unit.
Mr Busuttil, 40, of Żurrieq, took a quick break from work yesterday morning and stopped by the mobile donation unit stationed in the main square of Żurrieq. Sitting comfortably in the reclined chair inside the air-conditioned unit, Mr Busuttil said he had no idea his was going to be a landmark donation, adding he was not doing “anything special”.
The blood donation unit was extensively refurnished in February 2009 on the road where it has been used 684 times, or approximately three to four times a week.
Mr Busuttil first donated blood in 1998 at the Guardamangia transfusion centre. Since then he has been donating regularly and yesterday was his 26th donation.
He appealed to people who have never donated to step up and help others.
“There are people who hold back because they think it will hurt or are afraid of a needle – but I urge them to try it at least once. I assure them that the satisfaction you get from giving blood is indescribable,” he said.
As the blood bag next to Mr Busuttil filled up the two friendly nurses staffing the unit – Claudine Balzan and Caroline Farrugia – welcomed people who walk into the van and ensured all donors were comfortable and hydrated before stepping out into the blazing midday heat.
“Press down on the plaster and bend your arm so you won’t bruise,” Ms Balzan said.
It is estimated that between January and June, there were 2,205 donations in the unit.
Ms Farrugia explained that the demand for blood had gone up – due mainly to an increase in the incidence of illness increased as well as in traffic accidents and operations. Fortunately, the number of donors has also risen.
However, last month the blood transfusion centre issued an urgent call for donations, saying reserves dipped to such a low level – especially because of a series of traffic accidents – that operations risked being postponed.
In fact, one heart operation was cancelled and the patient had to be sent home because the required blood supply was not available.
People up to the age of 60 can donate blood, while 17 and 18-year-olds need parental consent.
The National Blood Transfusion Service near St Luke’s Hospital in Guardamangia is open daily, including weekends and public holidays, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
In Gozo, the blood transfusion centre is open between Monday and Saturday from 8 to 11.30 a.m.