Terrace City Council is supporting efforts to establish a blood plasma donor centre in northern British Columbia.
During its regular council meeting last Monday, all members of the council decided unanimously to write a letter of support after receiving a request from the advocacy organization ‘Our Blood Counts”.
The organization is advocating to establish a blood plasma donor center to be set up in Prince George.
Councillor Sarah Zimmerman introduced the motion.
“There isn’t a blood plasma donor centre in northern B.C. This is being supported by many other organizations, local government, regional districts and First Nations. I think it would behoove us to support this, to support people and better medical care in the North.” she said.
According to Our Blood Counts, plasma treatments can be used in the treatment of cancer, immune deficiency diseases, and various types of blood diseases.
The organization said that Canada currently obtains about 30 per cent of its plasma needed by patients, and most of its plasma is coming from the U.S.
Prince George previously had a blood donor centre from 1998 to 2015.
Our Blood Counts notes that its petition backing the establishment of a northern donor center has been signed by more than 3,200 people, out of which 90 per cent have said that they will donate in the north.
The campaign has also received support from other northern communities such as Prince Rupert and Quesnel.
By approving the letter, Terrace joins a growing list of northern communities calling for expanded plasma donation services closer to home.
