THE annual blood drive hosted by Saraswati Vidyan Niketan, a private secondary school at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara, continues today. The hope is to reach a 401 units target, according to National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) Coordinator, Ms. Shameeza Mangal.
The collection that started on Saturday was a great success with a total of 308 units garnered over the weekend, she said.
Mangal said: “If necessary, we will continue until the end of the week with groups of about 15 persons.”
Last year the campaign garnered 261 units of blood and she said that type of support from the community is needed to ensure that there is no shortage in the country.
The objective for 2011 is 9,000 units, of which 90 per cent is expected to come from voluntary donors, who are welcome at all five sites nationwide, the NBTS headquarters in Georgetown, West Demerara Regional, New Amsterdam, Suddie and Linden hospitals.
Mangal said Guyana is making strides to move away from the trend of family replacement of volunteers but added that the blood banks need more walk-in donors to sustain the practice.
Reporting that the first quarter has fallen short by 309 units, she explained that the need is for at least 750 units a month from the banks.
Persons requiring further information about donating can telephone number 227-0418.