(Stabroek News) - The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) has managed so far to reach 86% of its target for blood collection for 2007.
This is due mainly to blood drives in July, during which the blood bank managed to collect some 3,400 units of blood; more than 50% of the overall target figure. The bank had set out to accumulate 520 units of blood per month with an overall 6,240 units for the year.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said while he was pleased with this achievement he hoped that by year end the blood bank will meet its target. "There is a second component to the target. Not only is it important how much units of blood we collect, we want to ensure that all the collection is through voluntary donation," Ramsammy said.
Statistics show that for 2006, only 31% of the blood collected came from voluntary donations. However, in the first seven months of this year voluntary donations accounted for 37% thus showing a slight improvement. "We would like to see voluntary donation up to 100% that is personally my hope," Ramsammy said.
To this end the minister and Medical Director of the NBTS, Dr Clement McEwan announced that they will be embarking on a new initiative with the aim of reaching the target. Come next Monday, the blood bank will launch its "Call Back" initiative. This new initiative will see some 1,800 registered blood donors being called back by the blood bank to donate.
Dr McEwan said he was optimistic that this new initiative along with the current blood drive and the corporate entities agreement would see the attainment of the target for this year.
Meanwhile, the minister reiterated that up to the end of August this year there has been a 52% reduction in malaria cases, compared with the same period last year. With regard to the most serious type of malaria known as Plasmodium Falciparum there has been a 60% reduction for this year as against the same period last year. There has also been a 44% reduction in the milder kind of malaria known as Plasmodium vivax.
Ramsammy also informed media operatives that Region Eight was leading in malaria reduction with an 81% reduction rate, followed by Region Nine with 68%, Region One with 65% and Region Seven with 43%. Asked what might have contributed to the reduction in reported malaria cases, the minister said he believed the increased availability of authentic drugs on the market might be one reason. He added that the sensitization programmes within the mining sector as well as the government's initiative to begin the mosquito nets distribution project both played a vital role also in the reduction of malaria cases