THE Regional Blood Bank, aimed at providing better health care in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), was commissioned by Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy on Wednesday, which he described as a ‘red letter’ day in the ‘Ancient County.’ The facility, situated at the northern end of the New Amsterdam Hospital Complex, had been in operation since July 2010, accumulating 863 units of blood, surpassing the Ministry’s target during that year.
For the current year, 702 of the targeted 1,000 units have since been collected.
Addressing the gathering, at the midday ceremony attended by various categories of health workers, the Minister of Health was quick to dispel critics who claimed there is not enough blood to meet the demands locally.

QUOTE:“There isn’t a single country in the developing world where they are meeting the demands. It’s a truth we do not talk about. What we have, as a nation, is not insufficient blood but we are without enough donors.” – Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.

“There isn’t a single country in the developing world where they are meeting the demands. It’s a truth we do not talk about. What we have, as a nation, is not insufficient blood but we are without enough donors,” he posited.
Ramsammy maintained that the Ministry cannot buy blood and recalled that, 20 years ago, persons suffering from diabetes and in need of insulin had to, personally, purchase the drug. But now, it is accessible through the Health Ministry.
However, unlike the insulin, blood cannot be bought. “Even if the budget is tripled, we will not be able to solve the problem unless persons come forward and, voluntarily, donate blood. That is our challenge,” he stated.
Ramsammy said, despite challenges faced, this developing country is one which is able to meet the demands.
He noted that, in 2000, a similar amount of units, representing seven per cent of the national requirement, were collected when the demand was 8,000 units. Twenty-five percent of that amount was through forced donation from the then operated Family Replacement Donor Programme. During that period, life saving surgeries were postponed if relatives were unable to give the required blood.
According to him, currently, the intake is 9,000 units which represents between 60 and 75 percent of the 12,000 needed for surgeries.
“The surgical capacity has improved four to five times more. In addition, delivering a baby by ‘C’ section has increased to 12 percent. The threshold for ordering blood was very high, as doctors waited until there was a life and death situation. Now we are using the blood to prevent a life and death situation as we pre-empt that most of the time. We have moved, in a decade, from meeting a seven percent to between 60 and 75 percent of the demand. When compared with developing countries, we are in the top echelon,” he boasted.
In a personal plea to those in the gathering, to become blood donors, Ramsammy said: “If you live long enough, you will need blood. Some of you are lucky that, while you were young, you did not need it. But, despite our age, we may need blood. When you donate, you do not know whose life you may save, as health care is available to anyone domiciled in Guyana and, if you need blood, you can receive it from the same pool without any payment.”
MYTHS
The Minister also dispelled myths associated with blood donation, assuring that the process from the vein of the donor to that of the recipient is as safe as humanly possible.
Earlier, Chief Executive Officer of Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA), Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, who issued certificates to two faith-based organisations, Overwinnning Open Bible Church and Number 64 Village Mandir, for their excellent support and contribution to health care delivery in Region Six, made a call to other organisations to contribute to the effort to surpass the targeted 12,000 units set by BRHA for 2011.
The new edifice houses an operational foot care centre, to be commissioned soon, along with facilities for Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) and Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) and a small laboratory.
During the 90 minutes ceremony, punctuated by a cultural presentation by psychiatric patient care assistant, Ms. Malika Vanbrook, Mahadeo sought permission from the attending Regional Education Officer, Ms. Shaifran Bhajan, to sensitise fourth and fifth formers and their respective Parent Teachers Association (PTA) about the benefits of blood donation and HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).
Among others making brief remarks were Bhajan, who represented the Regional Chairman, Mr. Zulficar Mustapha, absent due to his engagement with the families of the missing fishermen; Chairman of the BRHA Board, Mr. David Armogan, who urged agencies to mobilise and educate persons to become blood donors and Ms. Candy Archer, Acting Blood Bank Recruiter, who expressed disappointment at the first blood drive in  July 2010, when just 20 units were realised.
Following the symbolic cutting of the ribbon, First Vice-President of New Amsterdam Lions Club, Mr. Samuel Singh led a contingent in the ‘giving life’ gesture.