Pageant’s committee members, models donate blood to hospital

By Alice Osii
THE Miss Pacific Islands PNG Pageant committee organised the donation of 16 bags of blood to the Port Moresby General Hospital on Saturday, as part of an ongoing community initiative.
Chairperson Molly O’Rouke said the donors were models, committee members and other participants.
Committee member Lewa Kanah said hospitals and health centres around the country were experiencing a shortage of blood and hoped the donation would “help save the lives of those in need of blood”.
Phyllis Ivarato, a medical laboratory scientist at the Port Moresby General Hospital said people needed blood donations after accidents, fights, and in the case of some women, after giving birth.
“A person can only donate one bag of blood, which is 450 milligrams,” Ivarato said.
She said the one bag could save up to three people.
“Tests are conducted to make sure the blood is safe to be used on other people. Blood that is infected is discarded. Nearly 67 per cent of the blood donated are safe,” she said.