The University of the West Indies, Mona annual March Blood Drive has been renamed The Frank Worrell Commemorative Blood Drive in honour of legendary cricketer, Sir Frank Worrell and to commemorate the 40th anniversary of his death. The Blood Drive takes place on Tuesday, March 27 and Wednesday, March 28 from 9 am to 6 pm in the Assembly Hall, UWI, Mona under the theme, “It’s a Habit for Life!”
The Frank Worrell Commemorative Blood Drive is a collaborative effort involving the University Health Centre, the National Blood Transfusion Bank Service, and a group of final year Social Marketing students from The Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) under the name IMPACT.
The Blood Drive has been renamed to honour Sir Frank Worrell for being the first donor to Nari Contractor, former Indian skipper, who during the 1962 Indian tour of the West Indies received an injury resulting in him needing several blood transfusions and two emergency surgeries to save his life. A blood drive is held annually in Calcutta, India in memory of Sir Frank Worrell’s blood donation to the Indian skipper.
The University Health Centre hosts its annual Blood Drive aimed at promoting voluntary blood donation among the UWI community. Three Drives are usually planned over one calendar year. The drive is geared towards not only the University population but people who live and work in the vicinity of the University. UWI students and staff are encouraged to make a special effort to donate blood during the drive. The life you save may be your own.