GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (CMC) — The Cayman Islands Blood Bank on Friday sent a critical donation of 51 units of red cells and 72 units of plasma to the National Blood Transfusion Service in Jamaica.

This is the first of several donations to be made to the neighbouring island as part of Cayman’s relief efforts following Hurricane Melissa.

The donation was made possible by the Health Services Authority (HSA), which runs the bank. The decision to help was made because of the overwhelming support from the public over the past few days after 65 donors stepped forward to meet an urgent request for blood.

This included 13 new donors and represents what officials said was a remarkable increase compared to the usual daily average of 10 or fewer donations.

“This extraordinary turnout demonstrates the generosity and solidarity of our community,” said Dr Lundie Richards, the consultant haematologist-oncologist at the HSA and lead for blood bank and transfusion services.

“As a Jamaican, the support that Cayman has shown has left a profound effect on me. This is truly humanity in one of its greatest forms—the opportunity to give back, give blood and give Caymankind to our neighbours in need.”

He added that collecting “65 pints and one platelet unit in just a couple of days, when our typical daily numbers are under 10, speaks volumes about our donors’ compassion and commitment not only to Cayman but to regional health and well-being”.

The HSA and the blood bank emphasised that this donation is not a one-off event, but part of a broader effort to strengthen regional health collaboration and emergency preparedness. With the current influx of donors, the blood bank will continue in-house collection for now, with plans to resume mobile blood drives in the coming weeks once staffing allows.

Lizzette Yearwood, chief executive officer at the HSA, said it was a lifesaving initiative and the community had stepped up in an incredible way.

“Our donor community shows what can be achieved when healthcare systems and citizens work together. This is humanitarian leadership in action. I would like to encourage donors not to stop here. The donation already on its way can save at least 120 lives, but the need for ready, willing blood donors remains ongoing, both locally and regionally. Blood has a shelf life of 35 days, so consistent donations are necessary,” she added.

Meanwhile, Health Minister in the Cayman Islands, Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, applauded the donors and everyone involved for turning compassion into action.

“Our health systems are stronger when we support each other, and today’s achievement is proof. I encourage anyone in good health who meets the standard eligibility criteria to schedule an appointment with the Cayman Islands Blood Bank and donate, not just for our neighbours in Jamaica who need it, but also for our own community, as maintaining our national blood supply is essential,” she added.

The Cayman Islands Blood Bank, managed by the HSA, provides a full range of blood-banking and transfusion services, including whole blood, platelets and apheresis-based collections. It has expanded platelet availability and strengthened its transfusion-medicine capacity.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has appealed to the public to donate blood as soon as conditions allow, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, which has disrupted normal collection and storage operations across several parishes.