The National Blood Transfusion Centre (NBTC) has issued an urgent appeal for blood as currently it has a very low count of blood units in stock which puts lives at risk.

The NBTC said in December it collected just 228 units of blood much less than its 50% target for the month. It said this is a challenge it needs to overcome as many regular donors often wait until after the holiday season to donate, a Government Information Agency (GINA) release reported. The NBTC said this year the problem has been compounded by the inclement weather and corresponding flooding.

“We need all kinds of blood and we are urging Guyanese to assist to ensure hospitals have adequate supplies of blood,” the NBTC said.

ccording to GINA the centre collected almost 7,500 units of blood last year but despite this record amount; 2009 began with a shortage. “We are at least 60 percent below the stock level we need for normal services,” the NBTC said, therefore lives are risk.

The public is urged to visit the following intuitions to donate blood: the NBTC at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s Lamaha Street location, the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital, the Suddie Regional Hospital and the Linden Regional Hospital.