– public asked to help out
THE National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS) is currently in need of a boost and Guyanese are being encouraged to heed the call to become voluntary blood donors. According to NBTS coordinator, Ms. Shameeza Mangal, the bank’s buffer stock has dropped significantly given the increase in emergency needs due to the recent rise in the occurrence of accidents.

“We have been testing and sending out the units to the institutions that are in need,” she said, adding that a one-time request can see up to 48 units being disbursed.

She said, too, that the fact that there are no organised drives on at present makes the need for walk-in donors all the more urgent.

“The bank has drives organised for the latter part of the week, but right now there isn’t anything scheduled,” Mangal said.

To this end, she expressed her gratitude for the continued support of organisations like the Guyana Red Cross Society, which organises a drive every first Tuesday of the month to support NBTS, as well as the corporate entities that also lend them their support.

Mangal said that besides NBTS offices here in the city, there are five other sites nationwide at which voluntary donors can be accommodated, four of which can be found at the New Amsterdam, Suddie, Linden and West Demerara Regional hospitals respectively.

In parting, she said: “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.”