LAST year, 123 units of blood were collected on World Blood Donor Day in Jamaica. This year, the National Blood Transfusion Service hopes to increase the volume to 180 units.

With that target firmly fixed, Sandra Brown-Thomas is appealing to Jamaicans to go to the National Chest Hospital in Kingston on Saturday — World Blood Donor Day — and give generously.

Being held under the theme ‘Safe blood for saving mothers — to give blood for those who give life’, the event is organised by the Pan American Health Organisation and World Health Organisation.

According to Brown-Thomas, communications officer at the National Blood Transfusion Service, a wide variety of services will be offered throughout the day. They will range from general health checks to physiotherapy and detox services, in addition to entertainment for children.

Activities will start at 9:00 am and go up to 4:00 pm. The formal opening ceremony is scheduled for 10:00

am, Brown-Thomas said. She implored people attending to dress comfortably, ensure that they are well rested and help to improve the quality of someone else’s life by giving the gift of blood.

Although primary focus is being placed on women who have complications during childbirth, the Blood Transfusion Service is also focusing on kidney dialysis patients, sickle cell patients and persons who suffer from cancer of the blood, or leukaemia.

“Many persons are afraid of the needle… in Jamaica, there is a phobia about needles, if it’s not something they absolutely have to get, like a vaccination, they won’t do it,” said Brown-Thomas.

She said that while the procedure may cause a bit of discomfort, it should not stop people from giving blood.

“Just relax, knowing that you are performing a good service on behalf of your fellow Jamaicans,” said Brown-Thomas.

She explained that currently there is a 30 per cent deferral rate in regard to people who want to register as donors. Brown-Thomas attributed this to factors such as recent vaccinations, high blood pressure, influenza and having a low blood count. She added that 90 per cent of persons wait until the last minute to commit as donors, making collection even more challenging.

The problem is further compounded by the fact that many people who are willing to be donors are not considered applicable for different reasons, among them not maintaining a healthy and balanced diet. Brown-Thomas insisted that while there is no strict dieting plan for a prospective donor, persons should ensure they consume a lot of dark green, leafy vegetables and foods high in Vitamin C, in order to help the body to properly absorb iron, which must be adequately present in a donor’s blood count. Other reasons that will preclude prospective donors are age and weight requirements.

Donors should ideally be between the ages of 17 and 60 years old, though this may be extended to age 65 if the person remains willing and in good health. The donor must also weigh no less than 110 pounds.

Brown-Thomas also stressed that persons needed to ensure that they are free from any sexually transmitted diseases and practise safe sex.

Prospective donors are screened to ensure that they are healthy and have a good blood count. The entire process takes 35-45 minutes, excluding the waiting time. In addition, prospective donors must eat a balanced meal before coming to donate blood.

Although the Blood Transfusion Service does not have a large staff, Brown-Thomas said networking with corporate companies, churches and schools helps to get donations outside of events like World Blood Donor Day.

“We may not be visible in the media, but we are in communities,” she said, while highlighting that there are always four to six blood drives being conducted in any given month in various places. She also expressed delight in getting the help of Caribbean Broilers and Lucozade as sponsors for blood drives. Lucozade, she explained, is in its 10th year of sponsorship and is helping the service to reach out to those she described as “the new generation of blood donors”.

A blood drive will also be held at Fontana Pharmacy at Fairview Shopping Centre in Montego Bay by the blood collection centre at Cornwall Regional Hospital on Friday.