World Blood Donor Day: Collection has increased to 1000 units per month – Blood Bank Director

…urges persons to donate plasma in aiding chronic disease patients

As Guyana gears up to celebrate World Blood Donor Day, emphasis is being placed this year on plasma and the patients with chronic diseases whose lives depend on the donation of this critical substance.
In this week’s edition of the Health Matters programme, Director of the National Blood Transfusion Service, Dr Pedro Lewis underscored that plasma is used to make a series of derivatives.

Plasma makes up approximately 55 per cent of your blood, and contains antibodies, known as immunoglobulins, which fight infection. These antibodies are made into medicines to help people with cancers, rare diseases, immune disorders and genetic conditions.
“Plasma, which is the prime product, comes from the blood bank. From the plasma, they could make derivatives which are very critical in chronic diseases. This year also, with the World Health Organisation’s focus, Latin American countries and Guyana is focusing on how we support persons with chronic illness that depends on the blood banks for these products,” Dr Lewis underscored.
World Blood Donor Day will be celebrated on June 13 under the theme: “Give Blood, Give Plasma, Share Life, Share Often.” The Director underlined that those who donate should be celebrated on this day.
“It is very important that we celebrate the persons who give us these products, who take their time off and give blood. We also use this day to give awareness to individuals who have never donated before to start donating blood.”
Apart from the central Blood Bank at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), there are collection sites in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Before blood is donated, the donor is screened to ensure the person is not at risk for infection. This blood will last for about 35-42 days depending on the anticoagulant used. Every component of the blood is stored differently until it is ready for the recipient.
Given the progression of Guyana’s health sector and new procedures being done locally, Dr Lewis emphasised that blood products are easily used up.
He noted, “These units go rapidly because now, Guyana is developing. We have a lot of advanced procedures being done like cardiac surgeries, not only being done by GPHC but privately. Those type of persons utilise a lot of blood and blood products. We got to keep collecting so that we could have a healthy nation.”
The health professional also pointed to the need to make donors comfortable when they show up to donate. Once a person has donated blood, they can return in about two months should they want to do so again.
“This year, our focus is on chronic diseases but we also have trauma patients that come frequently at the hospital. Very importantly, we also have obstetrics patients. A mother will not only need one unit of blood.

She might need six, seven or even eight units. Also, these are the patients that they will activate a massive transfusion protocol because a lot of platelets, plasma and precipitate is needed for these patients. Every so often, he will get these patients.”
In Guyana, over 400 organisations participate in blood collection. In most cases, these agencies contact the NBTS to collaborate and facilitate the collection of units after a sensitisation session with stakeholders.
Dr Lewis expressed, “I think at this point of time, we have collected the most amount of blood than any other year to date. We’re averaging about 1000 units per month, which puts us on an excellent platform. This is something we want to maintain going forward.”
Since 2001, Guyana has adopted a 100 per cent voluntary donation programme for blood. Since that time, family members are not asked to donate blood before blood products are provided for transfusion.
The World Health Organisation recommends that all activities related to blood collection, testing, processing, storage and distribution must be coordinated at the national level through effective organisation and integrated blood supply networks. The national blood system should be governed by a national blood policy and legislative framework to promote uniform implementation of standards and consistency in the quality and safety of blood and blood products. (G12)