THE Ministry of Health has issued an urgent appeal for blood following an alarming depletion of stock at the National Blood Bank over the long Christmas weekend.

“We are requesting regular blood donors or anyone who want to be a donor to please come forward to donate blood,” Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy appealed in a statement. “After issuing blood to the various hospitals, we are presently left with only 15 units of blood (and) our regular stock at the National Blood Bank needs to maintain a stock of at least 150 units of blood,” Minister Ramsammy noted.

“This is a critical situation and an emergency,” declared the Health Minister.

To accommodate persons who want to donate, the National Blood Bank at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) was  opened on Sunday December 26th and yesterday (December 27th) from 8:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs.

Ramsammy said his ministry is closely monitoring the stock of blood products, nothing  that
December is usually the slowest month for blood collection.

“The fewest blood drives occur in December (and), for various reasons, organizations and individuals who work with us to organize blood drives usually find it difficult to mobilize.  However, we are also faced with the reality that December is also a month of peak demand for blood.”

Ramsammy said the tendency of collaborators and donors to take a break in December is in direct conflict with the high demand for blood products in December.

“It is in this context that I make this personal appeal,” the minister said.