THE National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) is continuously stressing the need for volunteer blood donors to come forward; and the Embassy of the United States of America (USA) hosted a blood drive last Thursday at its Duke Street location, where some 31 units of blood were donated to the blood bank by Embassy staffers.

The year 2013 marks ten years of partnership between the US and Guyana in combating HIV/AIDS under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). A major success story of that partnership has been the development of an adequate and safe supply of blood for the people of Guyana.

Over the past decade, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided technical support to the Guyanese Ministry of Health on blood safety activities. Key initiatives include enhancing blood collection procedures and policies in Guyana, recruiting and retaining low-risk blood donors, and ensuring the testing of all donated blood units for HIV and other transfusion-transmissible infections.

Physicians and other clinicians engaged in transfusion services received education on proper utilisation guidelines to reduce inappropriate use of blood as a clinical therapy, preventing shortages.

Last year marked the first year in which Guyana has been able to collect sufficient blood to meet its projected national needs. A record 10,000 units of blood was voluntarily donated.
The National Blood Transfusion Service (Blood Bank) relies on voluntary donations of blood from public-spirited persons to ensure safe blood is available when needed to save a life.

The main office of the NBTS is located at East and Lamaha Streets in Georgetown. Blood can be donated there, or at the following venues: the West Demerara Regional Hospital in Region 3; the Suddie Hospital in Region 2; the New Amsterdam Hospital in Region 6 and the Linden Hospital in Region 10. (Vanessa Narine)