THE Blood Bank has scheduled 13 collection drives over the next month but donors are still being encouraged to help meet requests from health facilities.

Volunteers who are 17 years old or older and weigh more than 110 pounds can make donations at the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) headquarters in Georgetown, New Amsterdam Hospital in Berbice, Suddie Hospital on Essequibo Coast, Linden Hospital at Mackenzie and West Demerara Regional Hospital at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.

NBTS Coordinator, Ms. Shameeza Mangal said, while persons are volunteering, a regular influx of them is needed to ensure that the buffer stock is maintained.

“Our walk-in donors number between 15 and 20 daily but we continue to test and distribute to the different hospitals so we need regular donors,” she explained.

Mangal said, of the walk-in category, the majority are volunteers as compared to those donating to relatives for family replacements.

However, she said that, contributing to the increase in voluntary donors at the bank, too, is the greater awareness among the Guyanese public and the return of some who have previously given blood.

The buffer stock at the bank had been raised from 144 to 170 units and more recently to 200 units, due to demand but she said there is no shortage now as was the case earlier this year.

However, in the event of an emergency, the buffer stock should be able to facilitate the requirement.

Mangal said the Blood Bank services both public and private health care delivery institutions, with Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) utilising 90 per cent of the resources.

She maintained that any contribution is to a life saving effort and persons should fulfill the moral responsibility.