Sewa TT President, Revan Teelucksingh says boosting Trinidad and Tobago’s blood supply must move beyond small contributions to a sustained national effort.
Speaking at the launch of the National Blood Donation Drive on Saturday, he said while organisations like Sewa TT have consistently supported blood collection efforts over the years, the country is still falling significantly short of its needs.
“The hope is that we could add thousands of units in a year. So currently we collect about 19,000. The need is for 40,000. So we’re less than half. And hoping from today with the additional push from the Ministry, the additional resources that being put into the mobile units, organizations like us could coordinate more drives and we can increase our national supply throughout the country.”
The call for increased donations is especially critical for patients who depend on regular transfusions, including those living with Thalassemia.
Vice President of the Society for Inherited and Severe Blood Disorders, Shenelle Maharaj, said shortages can have serious consequences.
“I live with Beta Thalassemia major and as a patient I am dependent on regular blood transfusions, at least one unit or pint, at least one unit of blood I receive every single month. And, you know, sometimes you would go to the hospital and blood would not be available, blood would not be available at the time of need. So it’s important that as a country we do what is possible to have persons donate on a regular basis to ensure that the supply can meet the demand.”
The Ministry of Health said the initiative will expand blood collection efforts through increased mobile drives and outreach across both urban and rural communities.