REGION SIX Health Services has honoured donors who collectively contributed over 500 units of blood to the New Amsterdam Blood Bank.
The donors were awarded plaques, hampers, bouquets and other tokens during a recent recognition ceremony held at the New Amsterdam Hospital Compound, in observance of World Blood Donor Day 2017.
Omesh Samlall, 34, a field foreman attached to GuySuCo, who gave 25 units of blood in the past six years, received the Male Champion Donor Award.
He told the Guyana Chronicle that the desire to donate was prompted after a near death experience in 2011.

“I awoke suddenly from my sleep.  My eyes refused to close. My wife assisted me in the bathroom for a shower. I fell and my world darkened.  Contact was made to families and friends, including the Dwarka’s family, who incidentally, are also honoured.  Following their advice, I was taken to the hospital where I was told that my blood count was very high. Consequently, I became a donor. Initially, I donated blood twice yearly, then quarterly, now I am  giving blood every two months.
Urmilla Prashad of Skeldon, Corentyne, copped the Female Champion Donor Award, having donated 15 units, while special tokens were given to Kevin Hooper, Van Bowling, Hemraj Sookraj, Vanessa Harry, Dr. Ganesh Sahadeo and Ms. Barclay, who has the rare and valued, O Negative (O-) blood group, among other individuals.
The Dwarkas’,  Leitch, Peters,  along with the Davis families, were also awarded along with the groups from the Rose Hall Sugar Estate, Massay Industries, Mibicuri Hospital, Siparuta Health Centre, Save Abby (a non-governmental organization (NGO), and Gay Park Mandir.
Phlebotomist, Candy Archer, said 600 units have so far been gathered this year.
Since the blood bank became operational, seven years ago, a total of 7,288 units of blood were donated by individuals, families and groups.
However, the last year was dubbed the ground-breaking year as some 1005 units were donated.

Archer noted too that there were a few deferrals, particularly from those who were over aged 65, those with various forms of tattoo, those on medication, and those with low haemalocrit (iron) level.
Persons who have had tattoos printed on their bodies would have to wait for a period of 12 months before they can become donors, while persons with a low iron count are advised to improve their diet by eating vegetables or by adding multivitaims to their meals.
Further, it was noted that the blood bank seeks to attract a 100 percent unpaid volunteer donors because the incident of blood transmitted disease is much less in blood drawn from volunteers.
In addition, it was recognised that there is no substitute for human blood which is required for transfusion for persons who are victims of motor vehicular accidents, major surgeries, for premature newborn, sickle cell disease and leukemia among others.
Regional Health Services Director, Jevaughn Stephen, said over the last three years, 420 units of blood were utilised by the New Amsterdam Hospital with the additional blood being sent to other parts of Guyana, to give ‘the gift of life’ to those in need.