RECENT WEATHER conditions have led to a severe shortage in blood supply and stock, according to the National Blood Transfusion Service.
The requests for blood products have far exceeded the amount available from the Blood Bank, it said.
"We had 71 units in hand on Tuesday with requests for 200 units. We are at a low point, again," said Sandra Brown, communications officer at the Blood Bank.
IMPEDED BY WEATHER
Ms. Brown said the bad weather hampered the regular blood collection drives at organisations and institutions, leading to the cancellations of some drives. She said the weather also affected persons visiting various centres across the island to donate blood.
"We are appealing to persons and voluntary donors to make an effort to visit collection centres to donate blood," she said.
Ms. Brown added that the Blood Bank would be more than willing to make special arrangements to facilitate groups of persons, who wanted to donate blood outside of the regular hours.
She also urged churches and companies as well as institutions, to establish group accounts at the Blood Bank.
Blood collection centres
The University Hospital of the West Indies in St. Andrew
Mandeville Hospital in Manchester
Savanna-la-Mar Hospital in Westmoreland
St. Ann's Bay Hospital in St. Ann
Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay
Port Antonio Hospital in Portland
