Every three seconds someone somewhere in the world needs blood. Become a Donor Today!
Our aim is to raise awareness about blood donation and use in Trinidad and Tobago.
Founded in October 2011, the UWI Blood Donor Foundation is a voluntary organization established within the Department of Paraclinical Sciences (DPS), Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS), UWI. Our vision is to use the medium of education to promote safe and reliable blood donation and appropriate use.
Mission statement: ‘To help save lives by conducting education and research to promote voluntary blood donation and equal access for those in need’
Blood donation in Trinidad and Tobago is done mostly by family members or friends of patients in an emergency or to prevent one. Blood is rarely donated unless there is an emergency.
As a result, there is always a limited stock of blood for day to day use. As a safeguard, citizens who wish to give blood for general use are given the right to claim their blood if a family contact needs it.
Countries that collect blood in this way have a smaller blood supply than those in which all blood is collected from healthy community members with no link to specific patients.
The supply is larger and available to any patient in need. For this reason, our citizens who have surgery or complex treatment in the USA, England or Canada are not called upon to provide blood donors.
About 20,000 units of blood are collected annually in Trinidad and Tobago. The World Health Organization recommends that 65,000 units should be collected each year to meet the country’s transfusion requirements.
Apart from limiting collections, the methods of donation have the potential to affect safety and equality. Is it possible to establish regular voluntary blood donation healthy members of the community in Trinidad and Tobago, and indeed the Caribbean? We believe it is.
Community surveys have told us that the major deterrents to blood donation in the community are lack of awareness and inconvenience of donation.
The UWIBDF, by conducting further research and education in the community will identify and provide the information needed as well as investigate preferences for making the donation process attractive to the community.
In this way we will be able to advise and assist blood collection facilities to increase voluntary blood donation. This initiative could impact blood donation services, not only in Trinidad and Tobago, but also the other English speaking Caribbean countries which face a similar problem.
Our Objectives
Blood can be donated by anyone meeting the health criteria for donating blood. A person is eligible to be a voluntary blood donor if he/she is in general good health, is between the ages of 18 and 65 and weighs more than one hundred and ten (110) pounds.
Blood can be donated at the following locations in Trinidad and Tobago.
Please note, donors must arrive before 3pm.
National Blood Transfusion Service
160 Charlotte Street,
Port of Spain, Trinidad, WI.
T – (868) 627-2619
T – (868) 623-8204
F – (868) 623-3523
8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Monday to Friday,
except public holidays.
The Blood Bank (North)
Building 1 – Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex
Uriah Butler Highway, Champs Fleurs, Trinidad, WI.
T – (868) 645-2640
Ext: 2008
F – (868) 663-4673
8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Monday to Friday,
except public holidays.
The Blood Bank (South)
San Fernando General Hospital
Independence Avenue,
San Fernando, Trinidad, WI.
T – (868) 652-1121
8:00 am to 4:00 pm,
Monday to Friday,
except public holidays.
The Blood Bank (Tobago)
Tobago Regional Hospital
Fort Street, Scarborough,
Tobago.
T – (868) 639-2551
8:00 am to 4:00 pm,
Monday to Friday,
except public holidays.
Point Fortin Area Hospital
Volunteer Road, Mahaica,
Point Fortin, Trinidad, WI.
T – (868) 648-3281
T – (868) 648-3234
8:00 am to 4:00 pm,
Monday to Friday,
except public holidays.
Sangre Grande Hospital
Ojoe Road, Sangre Grande,
Trinidad, WI.
T – (868) 668-2273
T – (868) 668-2221
T – (868) 668-2228
8:00 am to 4:00 pm,
Monday to Friday,
except public holidays.
The National Blood Transfusion Service also has a mobile unit that selects business places (that have at least 20 willing possible donors) to visit for the purpose of collecting blood from voluntary donors. Please contact the National Blood Transfusion Service at the address above to schedule a visit from the mobile unit.
Help us save lives while attaining our aim of raising awareness about blood donation and use in Trinidad and Tobago. You may donate financial support or become a volunteer. We appreciate any support that you can offer.
As an organization, your pledge represents your partnership in our ongoing mission. As a partner, you are granted the opportunity to have your brand displayed on our partners page with a link to your website.
Additionally, your brand will be also displayed on all print and web communication media used by our organization to raise awareness about blood donation in Trinidad and Tobago.
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We appreciate your support and we’d love to hear from you. Feel free to send us your questions, suggestions or comments using the contact form below:
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Through our events and activities we intend to raise awareness of the importance of blood donation in Trinidad and Tobago. Visit our media centre regularly since it's constantly updated with photo galleries and videos of past events as well as updates and details on current and future events.
