A total of 100 units of blood were collected at the second annual blood drive by Cacique Inc., an Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) tuition provider in Pike Street, Kitty, Saturday last.

The institution, which hosted a blood drive last year, has made the blood drive an annual event in their calendar of activities and was recognised by the Ministry of Health in 2008 for what was at the time the largest collection in a one day blood drive.

However, Cacique Inc.’s collection was a total of 75 units which was surpassed by a blood drive organised by Swami Aksharananda in Cornelia Ida where they collected 176 units.

Coordinator of the National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS), Ms. Shameeza Mangal, stated that the blood bank is very happy with the donation and stated that the initiative to involve the students of the school as well as the community members of Kitty was a good one.

She said this was the second drive of this magnitude for the year, the first being at the Marian Academy on Valentine’s Day in February.

Ms. Mangal said that the additional units of blood received will go to the buffer stock at the blood bank and this was a welcome one that came at an opportune time.

“As fast as we screen and test the units we give them out so we are never really meeting out buffer stock of 170 units,” Mangal asserted.

This buffer stock of 170 was initially 144 units but due to the increase in the need for additional units a change in the level was mandated.

The coordinator lauded the contributions of all the donors and stated that persons should be encouraged to come in and give blood, as it is for a good cause.

However, Ms. Mangal pointed out that while the bank is meeting its needs for units of blood there is still a need for voluntary donors to come forward.

The NBTS coordinator affirmed that voluntary givers are always welcome at all six sites nationwide, including NBTS headquarters in Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Suddie, Linden and West Demerara Regional hospitals.

“In 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,” Mangal posited.