There have been major and encouraging developments recently in this country’s blood donation system.
Not only has the Minister of Health and his ministry embarked on a renewed public education campaign to garner volunteers, themed - Share Life, Give Blood, there have also been renovations to the blood donation centre at the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA).
In addition, the website has been updated to make becoming a donor easier, along with important information on relevant questions which may be asked.
But most critically, the country is moving away from a chaotic chit system, which typically sees an individual supplying blood for a particular patient, in order for that person in need to receive a life-saving intervention.
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh recently described the system as “inequitable and quite downright dangerous and unpredictable” because relatives of those in need of blood would often have to appeal for blood donors among family members, neighbours and co-workers during a time of crisis, some even resorting to paying to convince persons to make those donations.
But just yesterday, Local Government Minister Faris Al-Rawi said the chit system is so dangerous that it even saw cases where contaminated blood was given to patients - showing cracks in the process, which is often hurried and in disarray.
Speaking from his experience as the former Attorney General, Al-Rawi disclosed details from an incident where contaminated blood was given to a child, who later contracted HIV and eventually died.
This is why support is now growing for the True Voluntary Blood Donation Campaign.
Via this campaign, the hope is to invite 20,000 people to donate blood twice every year, thereby eliminating the rush and strain families find themselves in, as seen in the current chit system.
Already, the ministry has partnered with The University of the West Indies to encourage young people to donate and with non-governmental organisations to appeal to would-be volunteers.
Some of the archaic rules have been aborted to pave the way for more blood donations, such as decreasing the amount of time someone with a tattoo can donate blood, among others.
But over the coming weeks and months, there should be a greater public education drive to get rid of some of the old taboos and fears about donating blood that citizens have grown accustomed to and have been mistaking as fact.
In addition, the importance of donating blood should also be highlighted so that the country can move away from only giving in times of health emergencies. Recipients of this life-saving measure should also step forward and join the campaign, so the public can see real faces and real people.
The need for blood has increased in this country and citizens must now become aware of what it truly means to be their brother’s and sister’s keepers and save a life.