THE NATIONAL Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) yesterday launched a new volunteer blood donor programme to increase the current blood supply, meet the national demands for blood, and convert the present donor system to one of primarily voluntary donations.
The launch marks the beginning of an educational and sensitisation campaign expected to run for at least two years, and will be used to promote blood donations in a positive light and dispel the myths and fears preventing persons from becoming blood donor volunteers.
In the first six months a 30 per cent increase in collections is being targeted, increasing to 50 per cent in 18 months and 100 per cent over a five-year period, Health Minister John Junor said.
Annual collections currently average 24,000 pints which meets about 50-60 per cent of the country's demands, and medical and surgical care may be compromised on some occasions. At present 90 per cent of the blood donated is from replacement donors, or persons who donate for friends or family who are hospitalised.
The goal, Mr. Junor said, is to increase the quantity of safe blood donated as persons who voluntarily give blood present the least risk of transfusion of transmissible infections.
Information released by the NBTS at a press briefing at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, yesterday showed that although Jamaica was recently recognised by the Pan American Health Organisation as having one of the safest blood supplies in the Americas, the country has been unable to fulfil the demands for blood.
The existing system has many problems according to Dr. Lundie Richards, acting director of the NBTS. These include the pressures placed on family members and friends who despite knowing that they my not be ideal candidates feel obliged to give blood.
"As a result many high-risk persons are included in the donor pool increasing the potential for contamination," Dr. Richards said. "On the other hand the voluntary altruistic donors are usually healthy and more likely to be truthful in their responses to the administered medical questionnaire and they are least at risk of having any transfusion transmissible disease and thus represent the most appropriate donor population."
The number of donors and potential donors have also decreased over the years as health problems related to the increase in chronic diseases and risky behaviours, the number of persons with HIV and other STIs, migration or lack of interest on the part of the younger population grows.
Dr. Richards said that a part of the strategy of the new programme is to create the type of environment that is donor-friendly and will inspire donors to come to the NBTS repeatedly and to give freely.
Thus the physical surroundings of all collection centres will be made welcoming and all employees who deal directly with the public will receive the requisite customer service training. Also many donors who have had to spend much time at collection centres will have shorter wait periods.
Along with a media sensitisation campaign that is expected to run beyond a year, the NBTS will be approaching various target groups and having face to face educational seminars and conferences aimed at their successful recruitment and retention as blood donors.
Also as an incentive seen yesterday, NBTS recognised 10 organisations for their commitment to partnership with the launch. These included the JDF, Jamaica Constabulary, Jamaica Fire Brigade, Scotiabank, Red Stripe, Berger Paints, Kiwanis Club, Nestle Jamaica and others.
Long-serving members of staff of the NBTS were also honoured in yesterday's ceremony, as were long-standing volunteer donors. Those honoured were Carol Burrowes with 20 donations, Sonia Binns 40, Eric Errar, 58, Herman Westcarr 66, Milton Kelly 85, John Burrows 102, champion female donor Yvonne Binns 77 and champion male donor Ahmed Ben Hasenn with 175 donations, a voluntary blood donor since 1956.
