The Guyanese public is being called upon to take up the role of a Good Samaritan and give something to save lives by becoming voluntary blood donors.

This call came from Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy who made an urgent appeal during a press briefing at the National AIDS Programme Secretariat building, Hadfield Street.

He made it clear that the need for voluntary blood donors is urgent as the buffer stock at the blood bank is very low.

“I am not asking for donors to come forward, I am begging,” Ramsammy said. The minister pointed out that of a weekly buffer stock limit of 170 units, the number of units at the bank is only 45.

“We need blood, we need blood now,” he asserted.

Ramsammy stated that some organisations and individuals were under the impression that the recent fire that destroyed the Ministry’s headquarters curtailed some services, even the services that were not offered at the building, such as blood donor recruitment.

But he said, “The blood bank service was never affected by the fire and the Ministry of Health has returned to full service.”

The majority of the collection of units of blood is done so by blood drives and walk in blood donors and, Ramsammy stated that Guyanese should come forward to maintain the stock level.

The minister explained that this shortage comes at a time when the health sector is expanding its menu of services and this means increased surgical interventions.

“Previously the buffer stock was a safe zone that was used to deal with emergencies, and still have enough blood left; but now that is not the case,” he said.

To emphasise his point, Ramsammy alluded to an incident on Saturday where a private hospital requested five units of blood and the units were not acquired until the following day.

“We are meeting the needs, but there are critical delays. We should not have to wait,” Ramsammy said.

Another incident the minister pointed to was the fact that the projected blood use by the Georgetown Public Hospital for the next two weeks has already been utilised.

“Demand is growing faster,” Ramsammy noted.

He stated that the buffer stock might soon have to be raised from 170 units to 200 units. The level was raised already, earlier this year, from 144 units to its present level of 170 units.

The minister is urging Guyanese who are eligible (above 17, and over 100 pounds) to come forward and save a life.

Voluntary givers are also welcome at all six sites nationwide, including:

* National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) headquarters in Georgetown;

* New Amsterdam Hospital;

* Suddie Hospital;

* Linden Hospital; and

* West Demerara Regional Hospital.

The Health Ministry is leading the way on Thursday when staffers will be donating their units to NBTS.