DAVE’S Television Station (DTV-8) in New Amsterdam, collaborating with the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA), conducted a blood drive in its studio on Thursday.
Under the slogan ‘Be a Superhero, Donate Blood to Help Save Lives’, it was part of an effort to assist the New Amsterdam Blood Bank in achieving its 2013 target.

DTV had advertised the initiative for one week through televised advertisements and on Facebook, to encourage members of the public to donate.
DTV news reporter Jannelle Williams told the Guyana Chronicle it was their second such collaboration with the BRHA, after the first in April 2009.
She said it was a pleasant surprise to see many first time donors making their contributions having been influenced by the television advertisement.
“We are television for the entire family so we are ever conscious of our role in the community,” Williams said.
She said, after hearing the public appeals, to individuals and organisations, by the Chief Executive Officer of BHRA, Dr. Mahadeo, Dave’s felt it was their duty to host the blood collection.

MAIN OBJECTIVE
Williams said the main objective was to get people to donate blood in a conducive environment and enlighten them about their civic duty to society.
Each contributor received a nutritious beverage along with a complete snack pack as a gesture of appreciation.
People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Member of Parliament (MP), Faizal Jaffarally made his contribution before leaving to attend a sitting of the House in Georgetown.
He told this newspaper that his patriotic act was towards saving the lives of his fellow Guyanese.
“This blood drive is a very good event organised by the management of DTV. I must commend them in joining with the BRHA to ensure that there is adequate blood in times of emergency. This is a huge step towards the good health and well-being of our people,” Jaffarally asserted.
Phlebotomist attached to the New Amsterdam Blood Bank, Ms. Adrina Hall joined Jaffarally in commending DTV for joining with the BRHA.
“We think it is a really good initiative of DTV in helping us to reach our target this year. Every organisation that helps us is not only doing it for the BRHA but rather, to save lives of our patients,” she acknowledged.
DTV was established in 1993 by the Rambarran family, at Main and St. Ann Streets and is an extension of Dave’s Portrait Studio that had been opened by pioneer, the late David Rambarran, in 1947.