GUYANA, this year, recorded the highest collection of blood in history, with 7,529 units.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Health also said the new year is expected to see revamped efforts to heighten the drive and, hopefully, meet the 8,000 units target that was missed in 2009.

He said the Ministry is changing its strategy, with the aim of not only achieving the 8,000 units but in the hope of having voluntary donors rank between 75 and 85 per cent nationally.

For 2009, approximately 66 per cent of all collections nationwide were from voluntary donors, 72 per cent of whom donated to the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) in Georgetown.

The other sites volunteers are welcome include New Amsterdam Hospital; Suddie Hospital; Linden Hospital and West Demerara Regional Hospital, all of which will see changes in 2010.

The coming initiatives are the coordination of a national meeting which will involve organisations that have supported the blood drive during the year, so they will be able to schedule donations well in advance; written requests to voluntary donors of 2009 to pledge two units a year and the recruitment of new ones.

The official said the NBTS database has on record approximately 4,500 people who are volunteers and, while the target for 2010 is 10,000, it is generally agreed that the achievement will be a challenging undertaking.

Meantime, the Blood Bank is stable and stock levels are being maintained, having been bolstered by walk-in donors.