Blood donation safe during COVID-19 pandemic, says Bisasor-McKenzie

CHIEF MEDICAL Officer (CMO) Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie is calling for more Jamaicans to donates blood and ensure an adequate supply of the precious commodity.

She is assuring that the process is safe, even as the country grapples with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), in these times, has put in place safety measures to ensure that the donation process is with minimal exposure to COVID-19, so persons can feel safe to come out to donate,” Dr Bisasor-McKenzie said.

The CMO was speaking at the World Blood Donor Day Awards Ceremony, held on Monday at the NBTS’s Slipe Pen Road address in Kingston.

Acting Director of the NBTS, Dr Alisha Tucker, in her remarks, said that the entity is guided by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health

Organization COVID-19 safety protocols.

“They have provided ongoing guidelines as it relates to donor recruitment, blood supply and safety during this period … . They have assisted in our efforts to increase the awareness of the population to continue to donate despite the circumstance, as the need still persists for blood,” she noted.

REGULAR DONATIONS

Meanwhile, blood donor organiser for the NBTS, Dr Dania Levy, she said that an adequate supply of safe blood can only be assured through regular donations by volunteers.

“Donations are important now because we are still in a shortage. It is not as bad now as when COVID19 just started, but we still have a shortage … . The numbers in April indicate that of the number of requests that we got from hospitals, we were able to fulfil 55 per cent of that.

“Ideally, we would like to supply 100 per cent; our target would be about 75 per cent,” she said.

The World Blood Donor Day Awards Ceremony, held under the theme: ‘Safe Blood Saves Live’, saw the presentation of trophies and plaques to donors whose contributions have surpassed 50 units.

Those recognised included the Jamaica Defence Force, Jamaica Constabulary Force, Jamaica Fire Brigade, Department of Correctional Services, secondary schools, as well as advocacy groups and individuals.

Officially designated by the World Health Assembly in 2005, the day, observed annually on June 14, seeks to encourage persons to make regular, voluntary blood donations.

World Blood Donor Day also seeks to raise awareness about the global need for safe blood and how everyone can contribute.