THE National Blood Transfusion Service collected the country’s target of over 10,000 units of blood for the year 2016.
During a recent press conference, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, said that the mission of the blood bank is to recruit an adequate number of safe, voluntary non- remunerated blood donors and to maintain an adequate buffer stock to respond to all blood transfusion needs of all hospitals in Guyana.

As such, she indicated that in the year 2015 the blood bank had collected 9,656 units of blood and the total collected up to November 2016 was 9,566. The year 2016 had a favourable start with a total of 2,018 in the first two months in comparison to a slower start in 2015 with a total of 1,756 for the two months.
Thus, in an effort to improve the blood-banking process, the unit took measures to reintroduce the Hospital Transfusion Committee at each of the regional and private hospitals. The basic transfusion guidelines were shared with the various facilities and each was encouraged to establish and upkeep a functioning committee.

“Action has been taken to review all the standard operating procedures, safety and quality manual and all controlled documents used in the blood bank. Currently, the blood bank follows the Caribbean Regional Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services. The system also covers product identification and traceability, storage, distribution and transportation.

“We also actively partake in external quality assessments on a regular basis to constantly validate our competency, skill and accuracy. There has also been technical support via the Argentina Government through the South –South Cooperation,” said Dr. Cummings.
The Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) facilitated an online Immunoheamatology course which covered pertinent topics such as quality management, antibodies identification, transfusion practices, and blood group systems. Four persons participated- two from the Blood Bank and two from the Georgetown Hospital Lab Compatibility Department.

In an attempt to determine the national blood needs, steps have been taken to collect and analyse statistical data from the regional and private hospitals in relation to blood requests and actual blood transfusions, along with diagnoses of patients and blood types.
Meanwhile, the blood bank along with its four regional branches have been reaching out and sending invitation letters to various organisations, business entities and institutions, inviting them to host blood drives. In 2016, the National Blood Transfusion Service had conducted approximately 93 blood drives across the country with numerous organisations, institutions and business entities.

The blood bank has also participated in several health fairs where there were successful blood donations and collection. The department has expanded its target population which now includes schools,the military, faith-based organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations among other target groups and has also increased sensitisation and awareness.
Another major challenge is the absence of a Blood Donor Organiser/Recruiter at the Blood Bank. This is a critical position which needs to be filled urgently. “There needs to be specialised attention to donor recruitment and organising blood drives. The lack of a Donor Organiser has been a tremendous setback for the blood bank,” said the minister.

Nevertheless, this year they hope to improve training in both the quality and technical aspects of blood banking and see to more sensitisation sessions being conducted across the country, in an effort to educate the population on the benefits of blood donation and erase any stigma attached to donating blood.