The National Blood Bank has collected 31 pints of blood from a blood drive organised by the United States (US) Embassy and the Ministry of Health.
According to a press release, US government staff and staff from other diplomatic missions and international organisations participated in the drive held on Thursday to meet a critical blood shortage. The US Center for Disease Control (CDC) also provided considerable technical support for blood safety activities to help improve blood collection procedures and policies in Guyana.
As one of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) implementing agencies, the CDC has been involved in boosting the capacity of blood transfusion services since 2004; in creating strategies to recruit and retain low-risk voluntary blood donors and in facilitating access to HV/AIDS treatment and care programmes. It also offers support for 100% testing of all donated blood units for HIV and other transfusion-transmissible infections.
“Physicians and other clinicians in transfusion practices are provided education and utilization guidelines to reduce inappropriate use of blood as a clinical therapy, which has been linked to shortages,” the release said.
The CDC also trains personnel to build capacity in all aspects of blood collection, storage, testing and utilization, which has contributed to a steady increase in the percentage of voluntary blood donors in Guyana from 18% in 2004 to 89% in 2012; an increase of 19% since last year.
