THE NATIONAL Blood Trans-fusion Service (Blood Bank) has opened a bank account to receive donations to help recover from the effects of Hurricane Ivan.

The account number for the Ivan Disaster Fund is 3597-18. The account is based at the Bank of Nova Scotia, Cross Roads. The fund will be used to buy replacement generators for the Blood Bank's headquarters, 21 Slipe Road, and the blood collection centre at the National Chest Hospital, Barbican Road, St. Andrew. The fund will also facilitate repairs to the Blood Bank's headquarters, which sustained structural damage.

Following its appeal published yesterday, donors loaned the Blood Bank a generator and donated a tank to store diesel oil but pleas for blood by health officials went unheeded, leaving low supplies at the island's blood collection centres.

WHERE TO GIVE BLOOD

Persons interested in donating blood should go to the Blood Bank's headquarters, Mondays to Thursdays between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Persons can visit the National Chest Hospital on Barbican Road, St. Andrew, Mondays to Thursdays from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., on Fridays up to 3:00 p.m. and on Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Donations can also be made at the University Hospital of the West Indies from Mondays to Fridays 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Persons in other parts of the island should visit blood collection centres at the Cornwall Regional Hospital, Montego Bay, St. James, as well as other regional hospitals in St. Ann's Bay, St. Ann; Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland; Port Antonio, Portland; Spanish Town, St. Catherine; May Pen, Clarendon and Mandeville, Manchester from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

POINTS TO REMEMBER

The Ministry is reminding potential donors to have a healthy and balanced meal within three hours of donating blood; avoid taking any form of medication within 24 hours of donating; be well rested and wear loosely fitted garments that will facilitate proper blood circulation.

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