THE National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) is on target to garner 8,000 units but Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said there is an acceleration to collect 10,000 units in 2010.
In invited remarks, he said the voluntary donations countrywide have increased to between 75 and 85 per cent nationally.
“A lot of young people who are not yet 16-years-old have gotten involved and want to be donors. They have been challenging us to donate and I am returning that challenge. As soon as they qualify, they should start donating so they can be able to give 25 units each by the time they are 25-years-old,” he said.
Ramsammy said more persons are responding to the ‘Good Samaritan’ programme and becoming volunteers and, from 2010 and 2015, Guyana is expected to have enough regular volunteer blood donors to guarantee the country enough.
He said steps are being taken to make advancements in the blood collection process.
According to him, at first, the focus, prior to 2002, was getting people to become voluntary donors but, currently, the focus is on blood products, so that is not only the whole blood units that are used but the components such as platelets.
However, Ramsammy admitted there are challenges involved with the use of  components.
About developments in the drive, he said the first step was developing capacity to centrally store and collect, followed by the move to voluntary donation and, at present, the shift to ensure that doctors are able to use the components, rather than only whole blood.
Ramsammy also gave an update on capacity at New Amsterdam, in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), Suddie in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) and Linden, in Region Ten (Upper Demerara/ Berbice).
He said, by September, with the progress made, New Amsterdam is expected to do some amount of processing and, by year end, Linden should be able to do similarly.
Ramsammy said Suddie should be capable by the end of the first quarter next year.
He asserted that Guyana’s blood garnering model is one that other countries can emulate.