Health and Amerindian Affairs Ministries hold blood drive

Georgetown, GINA. March 15, 2012

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs held a blood drive on Wednesday at the latter’s Thomas Street office so that Amerindians could donate.

The activity allowed persons from the Amerindian Hostel, Hinterland Scholarship Students, Toshaos and staff of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to donate blood.


Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs Nigel Dharamlall donates blood. Minister Bheri Ramsaran looks on approvingly.


According to Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, Amerindians have a particularly good blood group, O, which is very vital for medical services so the ministry is always happy when they donate blood.

Minister Ramsaran also stated that the exercise will be an ongoing one by the Ministry of Health in other locations.

“We are going out, you don’t only have to go at the National Blood Transfusion Service to donate blood, and we also have competent and well trained workers to attend to you,” he said.

He highlighted the importance of giving blood and how each donation can help save lives.

“One unit of blood can save the lives of at least three persons when divided into component portions, a particular portion can fight a specific disease, because blood has different components and when the blood is taken to the Blood Transfusion Unit the phlebotomists can break it into fractions and each one of that can be used to fight a disease.”

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Nigel Dharamlall encouraged persons to share in the lives of others because by so doing they can make the country better and contribute to a healthy and productive nation and prosperous people.