Whether it’s a wounded Israel Defense Forces soldier or someone undergoing surgery, every Israeli who receives a blood transfusion can thank MDA’s Blood Services Division at the Marcus National Blood Services Center. And for premature infants, often the only medicine needed to ensure survival is breast milk.
Israel is situated in an exceedingly dangerous part of the world. Terrorists want to kill its people. Iran wants to bomb its cities. And with two seismic faults that virtually assure a major earthquake will strike the region in the future, even nature seems to be conspiring against it.
That’s why Magen David Adom built a new, state-of-the-art blood center for Israel that was dedicated in May 2022. The Marcus National Blood Services Center collects, tests, processes, and distributes to hospitals all the blood needed by the IDF and and Israel’s citizens. Currently, that need is about 270,000 units of blood a year, but with Israel’s growing population, the need is expected to grow exponentially. The new Marcus Center will allow MDA to double its supply.
The needs of the Marcus Center are extensive, so having your support is crucial to saving the lives of Israelis today and tomorrow. To learn more about giving opportunities, contact your AFMDA local office.
Of the nearly 200,000 babies born annually in Israel, about 10% aren’t full term. Of those, about 20% are severely preterm and underweight, putting them at risk for a number of serious medical conditions that can lead to developmental disabilities, severe morbidity, and infant mortality. A ready supply of breast milk from healthy mothers plays a crucial role in saving the lives of these babies. That’s why Magen David Adom established Israel’s first and only human milk bank in 2018. The Sussman Family Foundation Human Milk Bank is housed in the Marcus National Blood Services Center.
Your support can provide critical equipment, supplies, and trained technicians to meet the growing quantities of breast milk required by Israel’s neonatal units. For more information, contact your AFMDA local office.
