Dr. Lundie Richards, director of the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) has appealed to the public to donate blood to facilitate the possible demand during the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Dr. Richards said the NBTS, better known as the Blood Bank, has been running several mobile sessions and has been getting support from several organisations.

"The Jamaican public has been fairly supportive (but) we continue to appeal to persons to give blood," Dr. Richards told The Gleaner this week.

500 units a day

He noted that the NBTS aims to collect 500 units of blood per day,over a six-week period. This is up from the 300 units it aims to collect each day under normal circumstances.

"Today I am not disheartened. If there is no major demand, then we should be in good standing," he said.

Dr. Richards said there were incentives in store for persons who give blood during this period. He noted that at least two donors will get a chance to visit the Red Stripe Mound at Sabina Park where the West Indies team will play its first-round matches, among other things.

On average, 24,000 units of blood are collected annually by the NBTS. However, the national need is approximately 50,000-75,000 units.

Only 10 per cent of local blood donations comes from voluntary donations. The remaining 90 per cent comes from replacement donors.

Persons who wish to donate blood can visit the following centres: