Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 19, 2015 News
In recognition of its 21st Anniversary, and acknowledging the dire need for blood and blood components in Guyana, the Demerara Shipping Company (DSC) yesterday hosted a blood drive.
The Company’s Executive Director, Chandradat Chintamani, said that this initiative is just the first in a series of voluntary activities that his company has planned for this year.
Chintamani said that this is part of his company’s “corporate social responsibility to reach out to the less fortunate, and give back to the community”. The coordinator of the event stated that DSC would usually reach out to the National Blood Bank twice a year, and as part of the arrangement, employees of the National Blood Bank would visit and collect blood from willing employees.
Nurse Tandika Dundas, who is attached to the blood bank, said that the bank is always ready, willing and able to carry out blood drives at organisations across the country. She explained that people do not always have the time to come down to the blood bank, so her unit makes it a duty to go to them.
The Blood Bank supplies the entire country, and with the high demand for blood, as soon as blood is collected from donors, it is being requested by various hospitals. Consequently, there needs to be a steady inflow of donors within the system.
“Since one unit of blood can save up to three lives, the objective is to ensure that the blood bank always has a sufficient supply,” Dundas explained.
Every person donating blood is subjected to a mini health check where each has the opportunity to check his blood pressure, weight, check for blood borne diseases, and answer and discuss other important things about their personal lifestyle, in order to decide whether or not they qualify.
Nurse Dundas explained that most people would usually wait until a family member has the need for blood before they even consider donating. She went on to discuss the benefits and requirements for becoming a donor, which include the opportunity to regenerate blood cells, and save lives.
The National Blood Bank also encourages other companies interested in carrying out blood drives to rally up their employees, and indicate this information to them.
Members of the public who wish to donate on their own volition, and those who plan to donate with co-workers through blood drives organised by their place of business, must have attained the age of 16 years with the consent of a parent or guardian, or attained the age of 17, must weigh over 110lbs, must have a Haemoglobin (Hb) that is more than 12.5, and must not be suffering from cold or flu at the time of donating.
Blood donors are eligible to donate every two months.
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