Advocates push for blood donor centre during donor week

The campaign has grown significantly over the past year, with petition signatures rising from about 1,500 to over 4,250. Thirty-three organizations have also given their support, including First Nations, local governments, regional districts, Members of Parliament and the Legislative Assembly, health organizations, and healthcare labour unions.

Irina Doering, Vice-Chair of Our Blood Counts and someone who has received lifesaving blood donations, says the region is motivated by just more than sjust local needs. “A donor centre would give people across our North to help and would alsod also reduce Canada’s reliance on blood plasma production in the United States,” she said. “The North is ready to roll up our sleeves!”

That dependence is significant. Canada relies on the United States for 70 percent of some immune globulin therapies used in patient care. Advocates say a Northern BC centre would help Canada reach its goal of recruiting one million new blood donors by 2030 and strengthen plasma collection at home.

Our Blood Counts highlights Thunder Bay, Ontario’s plasma donor centre as a model and says it is pushing for an approach designed in the North, based on regional teamwork and Indigenous knowledge.

Our Blood Counts, started in June 2024, is run by volunteers. Organizations can show support at www.ourbloodcounts.com/partners. You can find a full list of endorsements at www.ourbloodcounts.com/endorsements. If you want to volunteer, email ourbloodcounts@gmail.com or call 250-617-8091.

by Dave Branco

Advocates push for blood donor centre during donor week

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