Trudy Simpson, Staff Reporter
Dr. Lundie Richards (right), executive director of the National Blood Transfusion Service (Blood Bank), raps with Dr. Ernest Pate (left), Pan-American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) representative in Jamaica and Dr. Jacqueline Gernay, health services adviser at PAHO. The three were at the Blood Bank/PAHO awards function to mark World Blood Donor Day yesterday and to recognise frequent blood donors and donation organisers. The function was held at the Blood Bank, Slipe Pen Road, Kingston. - IAN ALLEN STAFF/PHOTOGRAPHER
LOCAL HEALTH officials have launched a fervent appeal for voluntary blood donors to boost flagging levels of blood supplies at the The National Blood Transfusion Service (Blood Bank).
Even as they awarded frequent blood donors, officials at the Blood Bank, the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the Health Ministry yesterday lamented Jamaica's poor record of voluntary blood donations, which has left blood supplies at low levels and many lives, including those of children, at risk.
Blood Bank estimates indicate that for the service to adequately survive, it needs at least 30, 000 units of blood and 10,000 regular (voluntary) blood donors yearly. However, only 10 per cent of local blood donations come from voluntary donations.
"The remaining 90 per cent comes from replacement donors," explained Dr. Ernest Pate, PAHO/World Health Organisation (WHO) representative in Jamaica. Replacement donors give blood when a relative needs medical care.
NEEDS 300 UNITS DAILY
"This morning we had 55 units to be tested, which is well below what you need," said Dr. Lundie Richards, the Blood Bank's executive director. The Bank needs at least 300 units daily to meet various blood and blood product demands. Among the blood types needed are O negative and AB negative, he said. "Many times we are unable to treat children with cancers or do cardiac surgery (heart surgery) because we don't have the requisite blood supplies," Dr. Richards said at a function to mark World Blood Donor Day and to award 13 persons who are frequent blood donors and four persons responsible for organising blood donation drives.
The function was held at the Blood Bank's Slipe Pen Road headquarters in Kingston. Persons needing emergency or elective medical care are also affected by low blood supplies, health officials said.
DONORS RECOGNISED
Among those recognised with plaques were Eric Wilson, a taxi driver in Manchester, who has donated blood 50 times. Mr. Wilson said he started giving blood in 1980 after seeing a Gleaner article on a woman who was desperate for blood. Also honoured was Ansel Lee, a budget officer at the Ministry of Transport and Works in Kingston. Mr. Lee, a voluntary donor since 1977, has given blood 39 times. "This is a pleasant surprise," he said, reacting to the award.
Among donation organisers who were recognised were veteran organiser, Isabel Magnus and Dr. Blossom Anglin Brown, who collaborated with the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) to organise a blood drive at the University of the West Indies (UWI), which brought in 200 units of blood.
"We feel special ... when we know we are saving a life but we feel extra special today," said Dr. Anglin-Brown. "I just want to say (to Jamaicans) give, give, give and get somebody else to give," she said.
