Guyana poised to attain 100% voluntary blood donation by 2012

Oct 16, 2011 News

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… The success story of the Good Samaritan Programme

Pull Quote: “It is a selfless opportunity to make a difference in another person’s life. This way you are helping to ensure that adequate amounts of blood are always available at the hospitals in case you, your family or any other person should be in a situation where blood is needed to save your life…I will continue to donate blood until I die.” – David Dewar

With the establishment of the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), over the last 21 years Guyana has done a remarkable job in providing safe blood to Guyanese in a timely manner, even in the face of many challenges, chief among which is the constant motivation of Guyanese towards 100% voluntary donation.
This has been an uphill task, especially against the backdrop that the method of donation prior to the early 1990s hinged solely on family replacement, but the fact that 80% of the blood presently collected by the NBTS is through voluntary donation, is a success story.
This achievement is of even more significance since less than 20% of the countries around the world have attained 100% voluntary donation, even though it has been unequivocally demonstrated that the risks to a safe blood supply are significantly reduced when donation is voluntary.
Indeed, Guyana has defied the belief that the Caribbean culture is not one of voluntarily donation of blood.
“We in Guyana have established a new tradition where schools, businesses and a lot of other entities have established blood donation as their special contribution to the development of the country and that is reason to celebrate… Just a few years ago many said this was an unachievable target because there did not exist a culture in the Caribbean of voluntarily donating blood, but we have developed our own culture of giving blood,” Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said.
The total amount of units recruited in 1997 was 2000, of which 8% was voluntarily, in 2000 it was 3,345, of which 21% were voluntary and a whopping 79% as a result of family replacement. Last year, of the 7,738 units collected by the blood bank, 79% were from voluntary donors and 21% from family replacement: representation of a full metamorphosis.
“It is a phenomenal success story,” Minister Ramsammy said.
He believes that the goal of attaining 100% voluntary donation by 2012 is within reach but reminded that this would require sustained efforts in existing partnerships, and the establishment of new ones to develop a network of voluntary donors in all areas.
But while the NBTS has been meeting and surpassing its annual blood collection targets, and has increased its distribution significantly, the need for blood remains at a critical high most of the time and there are numerous instances where blood is not available for patients.

Additionally, the daily buffer stock of 120 units has maintained its capacity quota for a long while.
How is this possible?  Simply put it’s because of two main reasons; the rapid expansion of health services include the implementation of new surgeries as well as the increased frequency of routine surgeries and: the paradigm shift towards transfusing blood to avert crisis situations as opposed to waiting on a crisis to transfuse blood.
“Complex surgeries such as Kidney transplant and open heart surgeries are being done on a regular basis at the GPHC now. Such surgeries require extremely large amounts of blood. This is in addition to the regular incidents which call for an increased need for blood such as caesarian sections, accidents and gunshot wounds and cancer patients on chemotherapy.”
“Progress has been known to come with a price most times, and in this case it’s the need for more blood,” Minister Ramsammy noted.
Meanwhile the fact that healthcare system now functions on a daily basis with a view towards transfusing blood to avert crisis situations in patients  rather than waiting until “a life and death” situation arises to transfuse blood as was the norm in the past, adds to the increased need for blood.
“This means that blood is being transfused more often …we will not wait until someone is dying to give them blood.  We prefer to transfuse blood to them to keep them healthy … and that has actually contributed significantly to the increased demand for blood.”
Less than two weeks ago eight persons were scheduled for open heart surgeries at the Caribbean Heart Institute .One hundred and four units of blood were urgently needed since the regular supply at the NBTS could not facilitate this.
For the second time this year, an SOS for blood was sent out and Guyanese responded in their numbers.  Approximately 45 units were collected each day during the appeal as opposed to the daily 25 units. Thirty percent were first-time donors which Minister Ramsammy noted is indicative of Guyanese becoming “more health conscious.” While lauding regular donors for their support over the years, he encouraged persons to not always only respond when the NBTS is in ‘crisis mode’ but to “let blood donation become part of their lifestyle”
He also believes that those who have benefitted from transfusions should consider becoming regular donors and should become life-long advocates on behalf of the NBTS.
ESTABLISHING NEW STANDARDS IN BLOOD SAFETY
The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) was established in 1990 with the main objectives of ensuring the safety of blood through comprehensive screening and testing for recognized infectious agents and to encourage regular voluntary donations towards ensuring the adequacy of blood and blood products, with the goal of eliminating the spread of HIV and other infectious diseases through blood and blood products.
Prior to then, several ‘blood banks’ existed at Georgetown Hospital, four regional hospitals and four private hospitals.
This first stand-alone blood bank was established with collaboration of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Union (EU). It was then separated from the administration of the Georgetown Hospital and became the National Blood Transfusion Service.
Between 1990 and 1998, the EU provided technical and material assistance through training of both blood bank personnel and clinicians and the equipment for the blood bank. They also stimulated the formation of the NBTS advisory Board.
Since that time, a National Blood Policy and Legislative Act has been drafted, and under review, and a National Oversight Committee was constituted.
In its relentless effort to fulfill its mandate in an effective and comprehensive way, the NBTS since its establishment has undergone a metamorphosis on many levels.
The NBTS presently has three main components, recruitment and collection, laboratory and transfusion.
A staff compliment of nine, headed by Ms Shameeza Mangal through its flagship “Good Samaritan “programme has an impressive ongoing national recruitment drive which targets basically everyone throughout the country, motivating them to give blood.
On a continuous basis, invitations are sent to a large number of organizations, civil society groups, institutions, religious organizations, requesting that they host blood drives to attract voluntary donors. NBTS staffers stand ready to conduct education and sensitization sessions and facilitate the entire process once the invitations are accepted.
The NBTS has a listing of approximately 105 organisations on board which Ms Mangal described as an “admirable and dependable set” but believes that there is room for improvement as it relates to the consistency and frequency of the drives held.
Tele recruiters attached to the NBTS also call existing donors out of the pool of almost 3000 on a regular and consistent basis to give a ‘gentle reminder’ that it’s time to donate again.
“We are eternally grateful to our collaborators, those organizations which continue to extend themselves to host blood drives which have helped us tremendously in boosting our blood supply. Then there are the individuals who altruistically give on a consistent basis “
Organisations such as SEVA/ Guyana, Cornelia Ida Mandir, the SVN School in Cornelia Ida, Marian Academy, Mae’s School and the Guyana Islamic Relief Organisation were among the entities singled out for accolades while Messrs Ron Robinson, David Dewar, Laskhmi Narine, Deo Sawh and Abdul Khadir were praised for their individual benevolence in donating in excess of fifty units of blood each.
David Dewar has donated in excess of 100 units. He has been a donor since he was 23 years old. He is now 63. He sees giving blood as “ one of the least things a human being can do for their fellow man” adding that the simple act of sacrificing 15 minutes to donate a unit of blood can make the difference between life and death for someone.
So committed is he to the process of blood donation that he continued his benevolent deed while living and studying in London.
“It is a selfless opportunity to make a difference in another person’s life. This way you are helping to ensure that adequate amounts of blood are always available at the hospitals in case you, your family or any other person should be in a situation where blood is needed to save your life…I will continue to donate blood until I die,” Mr. Dewar vowed.
Facts about blood donation
•    Donating blood is a safe process. A sterile needle is used only once for each donor and then discarded so there is no risk of contracting HIV or any other disease through the donation process
•    A voluntary donor is someone who gives blood for humane reasons without consideration of who will receive the blood and without being paid
•    Research shows that the safest blood comes from voluntary blood donations.
•    Giving one unit of blood can save as many as three lives.
•    Blood donation is a simple four-step process: registration, medical history and mini-physical, donation and refreshments.
•    Every blood donor is given a mini-physical, checking the donor’s temperature, blood pressure, pulse and hemoglobin to ensure it is safe for the donor to give blood.
•    The actual blood donation typically takes less than 10-12 minutes. The entire process, from the time you arrive to the time you leave, takes approximately one hour.
•    The average adult has about 10 -12 pints of blood in his body. Roughly 1 pint is given during a donation.
•    A healthy donor may donate blood every 56 days
•    All donated blood is screened for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, Malaria, Chagas disease, HTLV (Human T-Lymphotrophic virus) and mico filaria before it can be released for transfusion.
•    Donating blood does not affect your sex life; there is no relationship between giving blood and sex drive or ability.
•    Blood donated or transfused in Guyana is given free by voluntary donors and is provided free of cost by the Ministry of Health / NBTS. No one should buy or sell blood.
•    Guyana currently needs approximately 10,000 units of blood annually, in order to meet medical needs for blood components in hospitals throughout the country. Presently about 7,500 units are collected which represents only about 1% of the population; or one donor in every 10 persons. Ideally the Ministry of Health seeking 2% of the adult population to become voluntary donors.
•    In keeping with a PAHO/WHO Resolution to improve blood safety, the Ministry of Health/NBTS is committed to attaining 100% voluntary blood donations buy 2012
•    Voluntary donations in Guyana are currently at around 80%. To achieve the target of 100% by next year, the Ministry of Health/NBTS needs you!
•    Blood can be donated at National Blood Transfusion Service, Lamaha Street Georgetown, Region Three, West Demerara Regional Hospital, Suddie Hospital Region Two Linden Hospital Region 10 and New Amsterdam Hospital Region Six.

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