Ambassador Yamamoto Launches First Ethiopian-American Blood Drive with the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS)

Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) -- On Wednesday, August 29, 2007, Ambassador Donald Yamamoto, United States Ambassador to Ethiopia, and Ato Bekele Tiruwork, representative of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS), launched the first ever Millennium Ethiopian-American Blood Drive.  The blood drive, held at the American Embassy, collected fifty two units (pints) of blood, which is two pints more than the daily national average from volunteers. Ambassador Yamamoto was one of the first donors.

The Embassy looks forward to making this an annual event, and continuing its relationship with the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS).  “Inadequate blood supplies cost many lives globally, and the employees of the embassy did an outstanding job of responding to Ethiopia’s need,” said Melissa Jefferson, Medical Attache from the Embassy’s Health Unit.   
According to the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS), volunteer donations comprise only 25-30% of total donations, with the remaining donations coming from relatives of blood recipients.  Less than fifty percent of the required amount of blood is collected by volunteers and family members combined.

The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERSC) has a large center in Addis Ababa, and 11 satellite donor sites around Ethiopia.  It also has a mobile unit that goes into communities with a full team of nurses and phlebotomists and all necessary equipment to collect blood from large groups such as schools, NGO’s and Embassies. Groups may schedule a mobile team to come to your organization.  Contact the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) at 011-515-0535 or 1558 for more information.