Posted: Wednesday, April 9, 2025. 4:51 pm CST.
Photo Credit: Island Donors Squad
By Aaron Humes: Ambergris Hope Hospital (AHH) has officially inaugurated a first-ever blood reserve, significantly enhancing its capacity to respond to medical emergencies and planned surgeries on the island.
Ahead of the planned establishment of a full-time hospital on Ambergris Caye, island volunteers have been rallying residents to donate blood in response to emergencies. With the new reserve in place, AHH can maintain 10 units of whole blood, primarily O+ and A+, along with 50 units of fresh frozen plasma. This stock will be regularly replenished through quarterly blood drives organized in partnership with Island Donor Squad (IDS) and Washington University of Health Sciences (WUHS), based on the island. Notably, these drives will collect donations that will be screened at Belize City’s Central Blood Bank before returning some units to the island.
“With a local blood reserve, we can provide faster access to life-saving care in emergencies, reducing reliance on costly transport to the mainland,” said Dr Jane Rodriguez, the hospital’s director. The reserve enables immediate transfusion services available daily from 7 AM to 7 PM, with on-call support around the clock, ensuring no delays in crucial situations.
In addition to accident-related emergencies, AHH anticipates that the blood reserve will be critical for procedures such as cesarean deliveries, childbirth, laparotomy, and appendectomies, which are among the most common uses for blood at the hospital.
The inaugural event on Saturday featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, where the first 20 guests received complimentary blood typing and vital checks. Attendees also had the opportunity to sign up as voluntary blood donors and participate in a public education segment about the importance of blood donation. To add a festive touch, the event concluded with an Easter egg hunt for future donors.
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The post Ambergris Caye Hope Hospital sets up blood reserve appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Wednesday, April 9, 2025. 4:51 pm CST. Photo Credit: Island Donors Squad By Aaron Humes: Ambergris Hope Hospital (AHH) has officially inaugurated a first-ever blood
The post Ambergris Caye Hope Hospital sets up blood reserve appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
