Blood transfusion service ran out of barcodes for donors

Dear Editor,

As is very much known by the public, the National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS) located within the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s compound is in dire need of blood and constantly urges healthy individuals to become voluntary blood donors. As a result of the appeals made by the NBTS, the leaders and members of Guyana Pandits’ Council and Radha Krishna Mandir of Georgetown organise an annual blood donation drive through tremendous commitment and dedication.

However, at the recently held blood drive at the Mandir on Saturday 3rd October, I was appalled by the unprofessional manner in which the blood drive was conducted by the members of staff of the NBTS. Just after approximately forty units of blood had been donated, members of the Mandir were informed that they were unable to accommodate any more donors as they had exhausted all the barcodes that were used to code the bags for each donor. I was quite puzzled upon hearing this statement. Surely the staff should have been appropriately equipped with all the essential items to conduct the blood drive successfully. I then proceeded to question one member of staff who was leading the operation. I was made to understand by her that over fifty barcodes were brought along for the blood drive. Considering my calculations to be correct, there should have been at least ten more barcodes available, however I was unsuccessful in getting an explanation as to where the remaining barcodes were, as all I was given by her was an uncooperative “Sorry, I don’t know.” I noted to her that there were at least twenty-five more voluntary donors who were waiting to donate blood, myself included, however she said that there was nothing she could do about it. Now, if she was aware that the barcodes were depleting, she simply could have made contact with the NBTS and requested more barcodes, something which she failed to do.

I am quite shocked, upset and disappointed at the attitude and level of unprofessionalism displayed by the members of staff of the NBTS. The Service is constantly requesting individuals to donate blood through numerous means: the media, billboards and in the case of regular donors, direct telephone calls. And now, when individuals are willing and available to donate blood, they are being turned away. I fervently hope that the management of the NBTS can look into this situation and if possible have the intervention of the higher authorities, the Ministry of Public Health so as to avoid such an incident from recurring.

Yours faithfully,
Devica Uditram