To mark World Blood Donor Day, the Bloedbank at Horacio Oduber Hospital hosted an Open Day on Friday, June 13th. From noon to 5:00 pm, the public was invited to tour the facility, learn how to become a blood donor, and better understand what happens to donated blood.
Garreth Tromp, Medical Support Manager at LabHOH and Bloedbank, emphasized that the day is meant to celebrate and honor blood donors. “Donating blood is a powerful act of generosity—it can save up to three lives,” he said.
Currently, Aruba has around 1,300 active donors. However, based on World Health Organization guidelines, the island needs approximately 3,000 donors to adequately meet local demand. Blood is critical in many situations, such as treating trauma victims, supporting patients during surgery or childbirth, and helping those undergoing chemotherapy. This makes maintaining a steady supply vital for saving lives.
Among the visitors was Aruba’s Minister of Public Health, Mervin Wyatt-Ras. She toured the facility, received a briefing on the donation process, and expressed appreciation for the team’s work. Tromp highlighted a new, state-of-the-art machine recently installed at the Bloedbank, which automates a large part of the process and extracts three separate blood products from each donation. He also explained the rigorous behind-the-scenes work to ensure every donation meets international safety and quality standards.
The event also welcomed local artist Freddy Rasta, who took the opportunity to learn about the donation process and registered to become a donor.
The Bloedbank team extended heartfelt thanks to all current donors for their time and life-saving contributions to the community.
Anyone interested in becoming a donor can visit www.bloedbankaruba.aw to fill out the online registration form. Once submitted, the Bloedbank will begin the process to officially enroll you. Don’t wait—sign up today and help save lives.
