The call for blood has become more urgent since the buffer stock at the National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS) is significantly below its 170 unit target.

Coordinator Ms. Shameeza Mangal said the precariousness of the situation means that the blood bank will be unable to meet certain needs if voluntary donors do not come forward.

Last Thursday, after issuing a call for Guyanese to take up the role of a Good Samaritan and give something to save lives by becoming voluntary blood donors, Ministry of Health staffers donated a total of 20 units.

Of late the blood bank has been experiencing significant shortages as demand for blood has become was far greater that the supply.

Compounding the situation was the onset of the holiday season when, according to Ms. Mangal, the facility’s primary donors are on vacation.

However, after the call by Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy last Monday, Mangal pointed out that voluntary donors visited the facility and the buffer stock was boosted.

This was on Friday last, when 50 units were collected, tested and sent out.

With the demands of health care facilities to be met, Mangal expressed the hope that voluntary donors would visit the blood bank.

In an invited comment, Ramsammy pointed out that only 0.5 percent of Guyana’s adult population donates blood, inclusive of voluntary donors and family replacements.

“Guyanese depends on 0.5 percent of the population for something that is life-saving,” Ramsammy lamented.

The Health Minister stated that while this statistic is better than some countries, other nations, such as Suriname, have one percent of their adult population donating blood.

“We want to have between one and 1.5 percent of our adult population donating blood,” Ramsammy said.

He added that if Guyana can achieve this target, “ we will be in a safer position that we are now.”

Ramsammy urged persons who are not voluntary donors to come forward and urged those who are voluntary donors to continue donating.

To be able to donate blood one must be over 17-years-old, over 110 pounds and healthy.

Voluntary givers are 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.

Those who are unable to donate, Ramsammy noted, can become advocates and recruiters for the blood bank as they urge others to become voluntary donors.