More than 190 new blood donors signed up with the Bermuda Blood Donor Centre last year, according to Bermuda Hospitals Board consultant hematologist Eyitayo Fakunle.

But Dr Fakunle said the hospital only had a few donors that have the rare blood type 0 Rh-negative and more of these are needed to ensure it can meet any increases in demand.

“Blood donation in Bermuda is a voluntary act of saving lives,” said Dr Fakunle, who spoke to The Royal Gazette as Bermuda marks World Blood Donor Day. “It is essential to keep enough stock of the different types of blood available for use in the hospital when the need arises particularly for emergencies including road traffic accident victims, gunshot wounds, all other trauma cases, obstetrics complications, surgeries requiring blood transfusions and medical cases including management of patients with sickle cell disease.”

According to Dr Fakunle, 2,003 pints or units of blood were donated between January and December last year. All of these, including those remaining from 2015, were used, with the total number of red cell units transfused last year amounting to 2,013.

Dr Fakunle said 195 new donors joined between January and December last year, but he added that “we only have a few donors with blood type O Rh-negative”.

“This is a rare blood type. Securing more donors with this blood type would help ensure we can always meet increases in demand that may arise.”

There are strict criteria governing blood donations to ensure a safe supply [see the PDF under “Related Media”] and potential donors are asked questions covering their medical history, lifestyle and travel.

And while the deferral period for MSM (males having sex with males) donors was changed from lifelong to one year in 2016, Dr Fakunle said the “the increase in the new blood donors is not because of change in this eligibility criteria”.

“A lot of new donors joined because of the effectiveness of the Corporate Blood Drive,” he said, adding that 19 companies joined this friendly competition in 2016 and 2017.

A BHB spokeswoman added that as part of World Blood Donor Day, the revolving trophy and a certificate would be presented to the company that was ranked highest in the Corporate Blood Drive today. The hospital is also celebrating retiring blood donors, with seven individuals identified. They were due to be presented with certificates yesterday.

• For more information, visit www.bermudahospitals.bm/be-a-donor, e-mail blood.donor@bhb.bm or call 236-5067.