U.S. Embassy Conducts Blood Drive for Tunisia
June 20, 2012
Ambassador Gray with Embassy Medical Officer Holly Strain, Dr. Belhassen Khlass, and members of the CNTS team.
The U.S. Embassy in Tunisia, in cooperation with the “Centre National de Transfusion Sanguine” (CNTS), conducted a blood drive on June 20. This blood drive was held in direct response to a recent call from the Ministry of Health, which noted a shortage of certain types of blood in Tunisia. During the drive, the CNTS collected 29 units of whole blood, which contain components that are used for many surgical and emergency medical procedures. The first to donate was Ambassador Gordon Gray, followed by members of the Embassy staff.
Ambassador Gray noted that this blood drive is taking place just after World Blood Donor Day, which was observed on June 14. He also commended CNTS for their tremendous support to the Tunisian people. “We have a strong partnership with CNTS, and I am very happy that we can continue our collaboration.” The Embassy last conducted a blood drive with CNTS, four months ago on February 14.
The Embassy’s partner, the “Centre National de Transfusion Sanguine” (CNTS), is the sole civilian supplier of blood to hospitals and healthcare centers across the country. Blood donation is entirely anonymous, voluntary, and compensation-free. Blood collected from the U.S. Embassy will be screened and processed at the central blood bank and sent to whoever is in need throughout Tunisia.
The Tunisian CNTS medical staff said they were extremely pleased with the donation results and expressed their gratitude to Ambassador Gray and to the staff of the U.S. Mission.