AS demand for blood continues to exceed supply capacity of the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), the usual appeal has been made for more voluntary donors to come forward to assist in alleviating the situation and help save lives.

Director of the NBTS, Dr. Nadia Liu, has acknowledged that voluntary donors did come forward since the last appeal, and the Blood Bank did receive some support, but she said more is needed.

She expressed gratitude on behalf of the NBTS for the units collected and for the efforts of those individuals who supported the previous drives; but, she said, demand is still very high.
The NBTS is inviting individuals to consider ‘walking in’ and donating blood, instead of having families donating for replacements, because, Dr Liu, said, the bank’s stock of blood is still below the limit required for an adequate buffer stock.

Dr Liu said that although no blood drive had been scheduled recently, she is pleading for more members of the public to become voluntary donors in the effort to save lives.

Liu reminded that one unit of blood can save three lives. She said, “We are encouraging persons to become voluntary donors. We hope people understand that it is about saving lives, and hopefully recognise what a privilege it is to be a donor.”

Despite the challenges, Dr Liu revealed, the NBTS is surely heading toward the Ministry of Health’s 100 percent voluntary donor target, as it did last year with a whopping 10,000 units.
She pointed out that the NBTS is open Mondays through Fridays from 08:00hrs to 18:30 hrs, and on Saturdays from 08:00hrs to 15:00hrs.

Companies, groups and individuals interested in being part of the NBTS ‘Good Samaritan’ programme can contact the Blood Bank on telephone number 223-7182.

Interested volunteers are welcome at the six sites nationwide. These include:
* NBTS headquarters, in Georgetown Public Hospital compound
* New Amsterdam Hospital in Berbice
* Suddie Hospital, Essequibo Coast
* Linden Hospital at Mackenzie, and
* West Demerara Regional Hospital at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.

(Savitri Laikram)