In line with its ongoing support of the National Blood Transfusion Centre (NBTC), GO said it is strongly supporting the refurbishment of the blood donation mobile unit targeted to encourage the recruitment of new blood donors especially during its blood drives in various localities of the Maltese Islands.

Apart from a cash sponsorship, GO has provided the new unit with a number of GO services including wireless GO Mobile Internet to help the unit’s personnel to connect while on the move and GO Plus digital television services enabling blood donors to relax during the actual process involved in blood donation and enjoy the range of GO Plus TV channels.

GO’s support of the NBTC dates back several years as the company always encouraged blood donation by its employees and often took the initiative of organising blood donation activities to help address the shortage of blood supplies and encouraging employees in cases to overcome apprehension and donate blood for a good cause. This culture of organising blood donation activities lives on to the present day and the new company, founded two years ago, welcomes and strongly supports such noble gestures on the part of its employees. GO’s ongoing collaboration with the NBTC peaked in 2005 when its mobile arm – GO Mobile – committed itself to part sponsor the refurbishment of the blood donation mobile unit.

Following an intense programme of refurbishment, the blood donation mobile unit has just hit the roads and will be getting on with its schedule of visits to various localities and places of work in Malta and Gozo to facilitate and spur on more healthy locals to join forces with NBTC and become blood donors on a regular basis. The whole purpose of the blood donation mobile unit is precisely to reach out to members of the Maltese society who find it hard to visit the malta blood transfusion unit in Pieta’ especially on their own or simply do not find the time to do so. Thanks to its complete refurbishment, the blood donation mobile unit now boasts a range of superior facilities powered by the latest technology including real-time access to donor data-base for safer blood donation, a high-tech pre-donation testing area and 4-person bleeding theatre, air-conditioning – for the donors’ comfort – motorised couches, automated coffee machine – not to mention the digital TV service sponsored by GO.

Speaking at the launch of the newly refurbished blood donation mobile unit held in the vicinity of GO’s retail outlet in Naxxar, GO CEO, David Kay said, “GO is indeed honoured to have the opportunity to support the refurbishment of the NBTC blood donation mobile unit. It is our belief that such partnerships between public and private entities are beneficial for the local community – and allows us to showcase our services.”

“We consider the initiative an important part of our Corporate Social Responsibility programme especially since the National Blood Transfusion Service plays a vital role in the wellbeing and health of our community. This mobile unit is now on the roads again and will now be in a stronger position to play a vital role in the strategy to encourage more and more people to donate blood and save the lives of fellow citizens.”

“I take the opportunity to thank GO management and employees for assisting the blood donation mobile unit in this project and I would like to extend my gratitude to the people involved in ensuring our health system has adequate blood supplies. At the same time, I thank all blood donors and encourage more people to donate the “gift of life” as indicated on the unit itself.”

Dr Alex Aquilina, Consultant and Director, NBTC, thanked GO for its ongoing support and hoped other large locally-based companies would follow suit. He said that a large number of people depended on the continued generosity of others who are healthy and pointed out that blood may be the difference between life and death for the sick person who needs transfusion. The mobile unit collects more than 3000 units of blood per year and has become a vital source of blood collection in the Maltese Islands.

Dr Joe Cassar, Parliamentary Secretary for Health in the Ministry for Social Policy as well as officials from GO and the NBTC were present for the official launch of the blood donation mobile unit.