Giftland mall pushing to surpass last year’s target with annual blood drive

The Giftland Mall located at Liliendaal; East Coast Demerara through its Occupational Safety and Health Committee today (January 27, 2017) held its annual blood drive to support the Blood Bank in its efforts to have a constant supply of blood to assist those patients in need.

According to Occupational Safety and Health Consultant, Dale Beresford, each year the Giftland Mall caters for three blood drives to be held in each quarter of the year.

Today’s activity was the first of a possible four to be held in 2017 since the company aspires to surpass last year’s donation of 200 units.

Donor attendant and Supervisor at the National Transfusion Service, popularly known as the Blood Bank, Tonza Younge-Bamfield emphasized the need for not only the mini health check prior to taking the donor’s blood, but the necessity of them giving honest answers to a number of questions they are asked to determine their suitability for giving blood.

She told News Room the focus is not only on the health of the donors but on the patients also, who have to receive the blood and if a donor may have been promiscuous that may pose as a threat, hence certain personal questions have to be asked of them in the best interest of both parties.

Miss Younge-Bamfield explained that when the donated blood is returned to the Blood bank it goes through some four and a half hours of intense screening since they look for eight infectious markers.

Among the many benefits of giving blood, Younge-Bamfield highlighted that giving blood regularly helps to prevent heart attacks in men 45 years and older, as well as keeps their cholesterol and blood pressure in check.

The GPHC’s Blood Bank is always in need of blood and looks towards regular drives where suitable donors could support the fight to save lives.