Senahasa Blood Bank Appeal

We are launching a major appeal to raise £75,000 for a new blood bank at Karapitiya Hospital near Galle. It will be part of the National Transfusion Service. We hope to begin the building work in December 2007.

Visiting the current Karapitiya blood bank was a truly shocking experience. Bloodstocks lie in freezers in the corridors; cardboard boxes full of blood bags are stacked outside the unit; blood is issued in the corridor. Under such dire conditions, the experienced and committed team do an astonishing job maintaining the quality of the blood products they supply.

The Karapitiya Blood Bank serves three other hospitals, since some of the facilities in those areas were damaged by the Tsunami. All blood collected at these locations is sent to Karapitiya for processing, as is the blood collected by mobile units. The unit had 12,500 donors last year and supplies more than 900 units each month, but the facilities can barely cope with the dramatic increase in volumes.

A new, better-equipped building is essential to protect the quality of blood supplies in the Galle District. Facilities are needed for proper storage, production, donors, administration, and the issue of blood products, as well as for the staff who run this 24-hour service.

Please support the Blood Bank Appeal by sending your donation to the Senahasa Trust or donate via Just Giving.

Your support will help the Karapitiya Blood Bank provide a safe blood supply for the people of the Galle District.

Blood issue in a corridor

Blood bags stacked outside the unit