Minister Bachoo urges Mauritians to become regular and voluntary blood donors

The Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Anil Kumar Bachoo, made a plea to all eligible Mauritians—especially the healthy and the young—to consider becoming a regular and voluntary blood donor.

He was speaking, this morning, at the launching of blood collect activities to mark the 2026 edition of the World Blood Donor Day under the theme, “One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives.”, at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in Plaine Magnien.

The initiative is a joint endeavour of the Ministry of Health and Wellness in collaboration with Airports of Mauritius Co. Ltd (AML), Airport Terminal Operations Ltd (ATOL) and the Mauritius Duty Free Paradise Co. Ltd (MDFP). On the occasion, a group of college students took the pledge to support a safe and sustainable blood supply.

In his keynote address, Minister Bachoo noted that this year’s theme is an important reminder that a single blood donation offers vital hope to patients undergoing surgeries and medical treatments while also contributing to reinforcing the national blood stock.

He emphasised that voluntary donations are crucial for maintaining a safe, continuous supply to save countless lives every day, highlighting that healthcare demands are unpredictable, with the daily requirement reaching to 140 -150 pints.

According to him, sustaining this essential supply is a shared responsibility that relies entirely on generous donors. He urged the public to step forward to help secure this life-saving resource.

Also present on the occasion, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Dhananjay Ramful, commended the selfless act of voluntary blood donors, stressing that their willingness to give of themselves is one of the finest expressions of humanity and civic responsibility.

He recalled that the World Health Organisation recognises voluntary blood donation as the foundation of a safe, sufficient, and sustainable blood supply—principles fully supported by the Government, which continues to promote it as the safest and most reliable source of blood for patients in need.

The Junior Minister of Health and Wellness, Mrs Anishta Babooram, for her part, highlighted the country's remarkable progress in blood collection, indicating that 51,454 pints were collected last year, with voluntary donations reaching 87.7% in 2025. Additionally, the proportion of regular donors surged from 12.8% to 34.8%, while female participation rose from 20.6% to 21.5%.

Mrs Babooram attributed these milestones to the collective efforts of healthcare workers, donor associations, volunteers, corporate partners, and the general public.

As for the Chief Executive Officer of the AML, ATOL and MDFP, Mr Lormus Bundhoo, he underpinned the corporate social responsibility and commitment of his organisations to supporting health initiatives that promote the wellbeing of individuals. He also advocated for increased initiatives that empower companies to prioritise employee health through the early detection and prevention of non-communicable diseases.

11 June 2026

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Topics: Health