By Naomi Marshall
DUE to the COVID-19 pandemic, blood donation has been a major issue in Guyana with the blood collection sites seeing a vast decrease in donation countrywide.
This is according to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), Toshanna Alicock.

Last Wednesday, the LHC in collaboration with the Linden Mackenzie Police Station hosted a ‘blood drive’ in Linden, Region 10 under the theme, “Save three lives in 15 minutes,” in an attempt to increase the amount of blood being donated during this period of time.
Additionally, the blood drive which is the first of its kind to be held since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, was carried out to educate members of the public on the importance and benefits of donating blood.

Eighteen units of blood that have the potential to save 54 lives were collected within six hours at the blood drive.
Alicock said due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the guidelines put in place to subdue the spread of the disease, the LHC has seen a major reduction in the donation of blood which can be life-threatening for individuals who need it.

Recently, in a telephone interview with Guyana Chronicle, Director of the National Blood Bank, Dr. Pedro Lewis, revealed that the blood bank is running low on all types of blood due to the pandemic.

Dr. Pedro explained that because of the blood bank’s production shortfall, they are now forced to go out into the outlying regions to do blood collection.
Meanwhile, Alicock explained that the process of giving blood is easy and takes only 15 minutes. Firstly, she noted that a ‘health check’ is done to determine whether the person is eligible to become a blood donor or not. The volunteer’s body weight, blood type, pulse, temperature, iron level and blood pressure are checked. The donor must be over 110 pounds and 16 years old or older.

She added that blood donation stimulates new blood cells production; promote weight loss, and lowers the risk of cancer, heart and liver ailments, among others.
Persons interested in donating blood can visit the New Amsterdam Hospital, Suddie Public Hospital, the Lethem Regional Hospital, the West Demerara Regional Hospital, and the Linden Hospital Complex. Opening hours are 08:00hrs to 18:00hrs from Monday to Friday and on Saturdays, 9:00hrs- 15:00hrs.