Media, business entities among those recognised for volunteerism
THE new blood donation culture, resulting in an increase of voluntary donors from below five per cent in 1997 to 80 per cent in 2010, has been attributed to the contributions of the media, the Private Sector and Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.
On the occasion of World Blood Donors Day, Tuesday, the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) recognised the collaborators who assisted in supporting the Good Samaritan Programme (GSP).
Thirteen media entities, including the Guyana Chronicle, Mr. Roy Bassoo of R. Bassoo and Sons, as well as Banks DIH, for supplying refreshments given to donors over the past five years, were accorded recognition.
Ramsammy was mentioned for his visionary leadership in the thrust to effect a change in the culture, moving it from a system of family replacement to voluntary donations.
Speaking at the ceremony for the purpose, at the NBTS headquarters, Lamaha and East Streets, Georgetown, he emphasised that the Good Samaritan Programme (GSP) is a successful one.
“The media and media practitioners stand tall in contributing when it comes to promoting safe blood in Guyana. The media have championed safe blood in Guyana. The private sector has also played a major role in supporting this cause,” Ramsammy said.
But the heroes, the anonymous heroes are the voluntary donors who save lives by making a simple donation, he maintained.
“It’s a genuine gift. The donor does not know who is going to benefit. It is a donation that meets the needs of people in surgery with cancer and those who suffer in accidents,”
he explained.
Ramsammy insisted it is ordinary people who make the difference in the lives of many people in need, ordinary people who have contributed.

LAGGING

He pointed out that, while developed countries are meeting their targets for blood collection, developing countries are lagging.
“Annually, the world needs 150 to 200 million units of blood. Last year, we collected 90 million units and that means we are short of 50 per cent of the blood we need. We need to meet the demand,” Ramsammy reported on the world situation.
He said the objective is to have more people coming forward so that two per cent of the adult population will be voluntary multiple donors.
“We can buy diabetes medicines if that  is what is needed but we cannot buy blood. It has to be given, a genuine gift. Every citizen must contribute,” Ramsammy urged.
He said the stark reality is that people stare death in the face because there is a lack of blood to save lives but Guyana’s need for it will increase as the health care services improve.
Ramsammy said this country does 15,000 surgeries a year and needs blood to complete them safely.
He noted that some 2,000 women need blood each year when they deliver babies through caesarean section and others to address their anaemia and cancer.
Ramsammy recalled that, in 1997, 2,500 units of blood were collected with under five per cent of that from volunteers and, in 2000, the collection amounted to 3,000 units with 21 per cent given voluntarily.
In 2010, Guyana advanced to 8,000 units, of which 80 per cent was through volunteerism, he said, adding: “When you look at where we came from to now, it demonstrates that the goals we set, ambitious as they are, are achievable.”
The target for 2011 is 9,000 units, with 90 per cent from voluntary donors and, in a few years the targeted aggregate will be between 12,000 and 14,000 units, with 100 per cent voluntarily contributed, Ramsammy posited.
Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Country Representative, Dr. Beverly Barnett agreed on the need to focus on safe blood.

TESTS DONE

She said the NBTS must be commended for emphasis on it, demonstrated by the number of tests done to screen what is collected.
Barnett acknowledged that safe and more blood is dependent on persons’ lifestyles.
“The voluntary donors who come forward are, generally, people who have healthier lifestyles. We can see the connect in giving safe blood and healthy living,” she concurred.
Barnett remarked that the GSP has a two-fold plus purpose as it not only encourages voluntary donors but healthy living, too.
She recommitted PAHO’s support for the Ministry of Health to ensure that it reaches its target of 100 per cent voluntary donors.
The theme for World Blood Donors Day 2011 was ‘More blood, More life’, reinforcing the urgent need for more people all over the world to become life savers by volunteering to donate regularly.
Voluntary givers are welcomed at all five sites nationwide, NBTS headquarters in Georgetown and West Demerara Regional, New Amsterdam, Suddie and Linden hospitals and persons requiring further information can telephone number 227-0418.
Guyana’s GSP, its blood donor recruitment flagship, is designed to encourage all adult Guyanese to become donors and contribute to saving lives. Through it, the Health Ministry aims to mobilise at least 7,000 Guyanese as regular blood donors, donating twice a year to garner 12,000 units annually.