Embassy of Cuba in Jamaica Diplomat and proud blood donor Anabel Landron Ochoa (center) is flanked by Musson Foundation Chairperson, Melanie Subratie (left) and GenAc Executive Director, Gregory S. Foster (right) at the General Accident Blood Drive held on June 16 at 58 Half Way Tree Road.

Now in its third year, the General Accident Insurance Company’s annual blood drive proceeds will facilitate donations to the Chain of Hope Foundation for local open heart surgeries.

With initial targets set at 50 units of blood, the 58 Half Way Tree head office of the popular insurance company was transformed as the Blood Drive got underway promptly at 9 am on Friday, June 16, 2023. At 1 pm, the target was met and at the close of the Blood Drive, a total of 55 pints were collected.

Data Entry Clerk at GenAc, Kadian Grant beamed with pride as she made her life-saving donation at the third annual General Accident Blood Drive, held at 58 Half Way Tree Road on June 16.

Pleased to have surpassed this year’s target, General Accident Managing Director Sharon Donaldson is excited about the visible impact the drive will have this year “Part of our mission with the Blood Drive is to educate the public about the necessity of donation. This year working alongside Chain of Hope there’s a clear view of this project’s benefit to Bustamante Hospital for Children and the children awaiting heart surgery. GenAc is proud to facilitate such a life-altering experience for our young Jamaicans.”

Poised to assist almost double the amount of waitlisted children General Manager of Chain of Hope, Nola Phillpotts Brown explained the value of the partnership. “We have six procedures to do next week and for each open heart procedure, we’ll need at least three to five units of blood so it means that we are right on the mark and so we are so elated. “

“We are very thankful and very appreciative of the collaboration with General Accident today,” Phillpotts Brown added.

General Accident staff members, customers and family members were among the 76 registered donations made on the day.

Also offering support to the cause was Dr Mia Ramirez and her team of medical associates from Cuba.

“We are here in Jamaica by the agreement between Jamaica and Cuba. We are here to help the Jamaican people. We work in different public hospitals.

With the collection target of 30 units of blood met at the mid-way mark of the GenAc Blood Drive, General Manager of Chain of Hope, Nola Phillpotts Brown (center) explained the impact to with Embassy of Cuba in Jamaica Diplomat Anabel Landron Ochoa (left) and National Blood Transfusion Service Blood Donor Organizer, Keishawna Pinnock (right). The Blood Drive was held at 58 Half Way Tree Road on June 16, 2023.

“This is not the first time we are donating we donated last year to the Bustamante Hospital for Children’s mission blood drive because we know that Jamaica has a big problem with blood and they need donations for accidents and children and many people. We are grateful to be able to help Jamaica because this is our commitment,” Ramirez explained.

The 2023 General Accident annual blood drive was done in partnership with Chain of Hope, the Musson Foundation, and the National Blood Transfusion Service (Blood Bank).