GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas – Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey expressed excitement over the record-breaking number of residents who showed up for ‘A Pint of Love’ Blood Drive at the Rand Memorial Hospital on Saturday, February 25, 2023.

The blood drive, the first for the year, was hosted by the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at the hospital in partnership with the Ministry for Grand Bahama, the Public Hospitals Authority, the Blood Donors Society of Grand Bahama, COLLAB: Partners for Development, Rotary, Rotaract and the Bahamas Red Cross Grand Bahama Centre.

Minister Moxey stressed how important it was for her ministry to be a part of the drive to heighten the donor numbers, educate the residents on the importance of being a blood donor and keeping the blood bank stocked.

“We’ve been saying how much we needed people to step up to the plate and donate and it’s happening,” she said, after greeting those who had already given blood and potential donors patiently waiting to be screened.

Pleased with all of the stakeholders and partners who have joined forces for such a worthy cause, Minister Moxey pointed out that collaboration is key.

“We are happy to see the police recruits that are here, as well as the National Youth Guard, they’re here with a strong presence, about 30 I believe. I think we’re making history today in terms of blood donated on a given day,” she said.

The goal, she pointed out, is to keep the momentum going.

“We want it to become the norm and, like the doctors had indicated earlier, after three months you can donate again. So we want to see it as a continuous effort,” Minister Moxey said.

“COLLAB, which is the new unit in the Ministry for Grand Bahama, partnerships for the development, is really working collaboratively to work on issues that we see exist in the community. This is one of those issues where we wanted to get our people out there to donate blood to the Rand Memorial Hospital.”

Convinced the partnership for such a worthy cause is only the beginning, Minister Moxey said she is elated to see when people who are so passionate about helping others and giving back to the community make it happen, and she is proud in her ministry’s role and so many others’ in the blood drive.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Randolph Deleveaux, Officer in charge of the Police Training College in Grand Bahama, showed up at the blood drive with two trainers and 29 police recruits and officers of the National Youth Guard presently undergoing training at the college.

ASP Deleveaux said it was a no-brainer to show their support and commended the organizers on the life-saving initiative.

“As trainers and police officers, we train to save lives and what better way to save lives than to give the gift of blood,” he said.

Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey revealed how impressed she was over the record-breaking number of residents in Grand Bahama who showed up for ‘A Pint of Love’ Blood Drive at the Rand Memorial Hospital on Saturday, February 25, 2023.

Residents waiting to give blood at ‘A Pint of Love’ Blood Drive at the Rand Memorial Hospital, while viewing a presentation on how the process works, were visited by Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey who thanked them for their selfless act and willingness to save a life.

Royal Bahamas Police Force and National Youth Guard recruits threw their full support behind ‘A Pint of Love’ Blood Drive on Saturday, February 25, 2023 and turned out in large numbers at the Rand Memorial Hospital to give blood.

Residents throughout Grand Bahama made their way to the Rand Memorial Hospital on Saturday, February 25, 2023 to donate blood and support the ‘A Pint of Love’ Blood Drive.

(BIS Photos/Lededra Marche)