SIRC volunteers orientation held yesterday

Solomon Islands Red Cross (SIRC) volunteers met with the local Red Cross staff for a half day orientation on various programs offered by the humanitarian organization.

According the volunteers committee chairman, Michael Samani, the aim of the meeting was to familiarize the volunteers (both new and old) on respective programs and services they would give on behalf of the Red Cross.

Yesterday's presentations highlighted the different roles played by various programs towards the operation of Red Cross during normal times and disaster situations.

"In all the programs of the Red Cross, you volunteers are the foundation of our work. Volunteers actually carrying out our activities in times like this and disasters...Even in the recovery phase of the Tsunami of West volunteers are still doing it", said Lorima Tuke (SIRC Disaster Manager).

So it is vital to listen to suggestions from volunteers at all levels where in development planning, activities, and evaluation.

Similar meetings will be held in the future to raise awareness to volunteers in regard to the Solomon Islands Red Cross activities update.

Hundreds turned up for Charity Concert

By Niniu Oligao

At the Honiara's famous Cultural Village (commonly know as Arts Gallery) hundreds of music fans flooded it yesterday to watch the Solomon Islands Red Cross Charity Concert. The concert was to raise fund to assist the local Red Cross to sustain its daily runnings and support towards its General welfare program.

The Charity show started at 11.30 am with people slowly went in till afternoon when hundreds flooded the show ground to watch and enjoyed the sounds of their favorite bands performed.

According to the organizing committee it is glad to say the Charity Concert raised huge amount of money to meet its goal yesterday.

And the Solomon Islands Red Cross gives credit to its hard working volunteers, staff and Scouts who helped during the preparation and the duration of the concert. Same gratitude humbly goes to the many bands who freely offered their support for a good cause the SI Red Cross stands for- to help the vulnerable people in our communities by protecting them from sicknesses, negative impacts of Climate Change, Leprosy patients, and victims of burnt houses to be clothed and sheltered.

Especially to the owners of One Drop Band to generously offer their instruments and band to be stage band for the show. Thank you for such good hearts. And finally to the public. SI Red Cross owes you gratitude for your supports in one way or the other during the show yesterday.

And the Solomon Islands Red Cross organizing committee humbly said we are all "Champions of humanity".

Appeal for more blood donors by Sir Waena

By Niniu Oligao

His Excellency the Governor General of the Solomon Islands and Patron of the Solomon Islands Red Cross, Sir Nathanial Waena appealed to more blood donors to come forward and donate blood. This happened during the World Blood Donor Day celebration on June 17, 2008 at the Honiara Referral Hospital compound.

In front of about two hundred people crowded to mark the World Blood Donor Day and nationwide radio coverage Sir Waena emotionally called for a five– minutes of silence to remember the humble ordinary givers of the noble gift of blood to save mankind.

“Blood donors are very humble people who have true love for mankind. And this is a great honor of love.

“Though we live in a world of modern technology but there is no substitute to blood”, Sir Waena said.

According to Sir Nathanial sadly million pregnant mothers and babies died of lack of blood donated. And Solomon Islands has the highest case in the region of pregnant mothers died during deliveries because of blood shortage.

“We have to give generously all the time. If you tried it once, do it again. If you do not give it yet, try it.

“We give it because we want to save another life– not for money or food.

“Thank you to everyone in this country who gave blood.

“Thank you on the behalf of those saved by your blood and their families.

“I on behalf of the Solomon Islands Red Cross and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, I appeal to you to donate blood.

“I appeal to all citizens to donate blood as a good gesture of love to mankind because the blood of Christ shed on the cross at Calvary to save mankind”, Sir Waena appealed.

That is the very reason for SI Red Cross and Ministry of Health honored that Day.

He further commended most senior schools increasingly donated blood. But he appealed to young people to keep blood clean from infectious diseases and drugs.

World Blood Donor Day celebration was organized by the SI Red Cross with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and World Health Organization (WHO).

A gift for Life- Blood Donation

(By Urijah Nomi Liligeto, 15 years old, Betikama College Form 3, 2008. A winner of the SI Red Cross Blood Donor Day essay competition)

Many of us may ask question, what is Blood Donation? According to the World Book Encyclopedia, it states that blood donation is when an individual voluntarily has blood drawn, usually for a blood transfusion, to another person. The one reason blood donors say why they give blood is because they want to help others. Some are also paid and in some cases there are incentives other than money. I will be writing on why blood is important for us, how and why we should donate blood.

Blood makes about seven percentage of your body weight. We all have different types of blood and Doctor Karl Landstainer first identified the major human blood groups as A,B, AB, O in 1901. Our blood has different jobs and it helps our body organs to be mobile. For example, we need red blood to carry oxygen to body organs and tissues while white blood cells are the body’s primary defense against infection. These are the reasons why need blood.

In our country today, people need blood and we help them by donating our blood. In our world today, someone needs blood every two seconds and about one in seven people entering a hospital need blood. Anemic patients need blood transfusion to increase their red blood cell levels and children who are treated for cancer, pre-mature infants and children undergoing heart surgery need blood. For these reasons, blood centers often short of blood so it is our challenge to help our fellow men and women by donating blood.

So, you can donate blood by going to the blood centers like Red Cross. You will be helped by people who worked there. Four easy steps to donate blood are by checking your medical history, quick physical check, donate then have snack. The actual blood donation usually takes about ten minutes. The entire process- from the time your sign to the time you leave- takes about an hour.

Many people are scared to donate but not this- you cannot get AIDS or any infectious disease by donating blood and giving blood wasn’t reducing your strength. Just donate blood because you are helping people who are in need of blood.

In conclusion, I just want to say that there is no substitute for human blood. We can be a life saver to someone. In the biblical aspect, we are saved from sin through the blood of Jesus and he became our substitute by dying on that cross on Calvary. So remember, the blood donation is all about life and death, and remember that a pint of your blood may save someone’s life.