HEALTH and Medical Services Minister Jone Usamate acknowledged the Japanese Government for replacing a 34-year-old vehicle used to collect blood by the Lautoka Hospital that had been deemed not roadworthy.
The minister personally received the mobile blood bank worth $165,489 in a ceremony held at the hospital yesterday.
While speaking at the handover event, Mr Usamate said the new vehicle would help the ministry achieve voluntary non-remunerated blood donation targets for the country.
“Fiji has now achieved 87 per cent voluntary donations in 2014,” he said.
“We should be achieving the 100 per cent target in 2018.”
Mr Usamate said for the Western Division, 72 per cent voluntary donations had been achieved.
“This is an increase of 31.9 per cent from 2009 to 2014.
“Although a blood truck was available, it was not effective due to its status because it was not fully operational.”
Japanese ambassador Takuji Hanatani said his Government was proud to have been given the opportunity to assist the Lautoka Hospital.
“The existing blood donor bus was in use for thirty four years and eventually declared unfit by the authorities,” he said.
“I am delighted to say that the new specialised blood donor bus will strengthen the blood collection capacity of the Ministry of Health and ease the strain on medical professionals.”
