-Health Minister urges more people to start donatingThe country’s blood bank has now run out of supplies and the authorities are making a desperate call for the public to donate the life saving liquid.Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, told this newspaper? yesterday, the blood bank had zero units of blood since it had distributed its last set of blood on the previous day (Friday) to various hospitals.He explained that there is a requirement of at least 600 to 800 units of blood which is necessary to facilitate supplies to patients on a monthly basis.This demand is anticipated to increase to an average of 1,000 to 1,200 units by the end of this year and is expected to rise to 1,500 units by 2012.Kaieteur News understands that though the GPHC was not in a position to share blood with other hospitals yesterday, it had enough only to facilitate its patients. Other hospitals were said to have a few units remaining in their possession.Minister Ramsammy stated that due to the increase in capacity of the health sector, the blood bank has now exceeded its ability to collect blood.This is due to the fact that 10 years ago there were 2,College Jerseys,500 units of blood collected per year in comparison to 8,000 units presently.Also while there were 2,000 surgeries conducted annually almost 10 years ago, there is an average of 10,Brett Kulak Jersey,000 surgeries being conducted on a yearly basis for the past few years.Doctors are now utilizing more blood, with the number of surgeries per year expected to rise to 15,Cheap NFL Jerseys China,000 by the end of 2012, hence increasing surgical capacities.“We are keeping people alive longer for various illnesses which include heart diseases and cancer,Toronto Maple Leafs Gear, so there will be an increase in the demand for blood because more blood will be used since we are treating them from earlier stages”,Andrew Franks Dolphins Jersey, said Minister Ramsammy.Kaieteur News was further told that in cases of emergencies,Jerseys NFL China, the GPHC will have to prioritize its patients, from those who require blood immediately to those who can wait a day or two.“In spite of more blood being collected there is also more that is used. There are increased surgeries, doctors becoming more aggressive in treatment, cases where doctors never prescribed blood before and are now making requests. There is better storage than ever with no wastage. All this shortage means is that more patients are receiving blood earlier and we will need to get more people to donate,” added the Health Minister.The public is being urged by the Health Ministry to “save a life, come out to the blood bank and donate today”.The blood bank will be open from 09:00 hrs (09:00am) to 16:00hrs (04:00pm) today.