NBTS - best in S. Asia

by Nilma DOLE

Sri Lanka is the best in the South Asian region when it comes to an extensive blood donation and transfusion service system, said the newly-appointed Director of the National Blood Transfusion Service centre (NBTS) Dr. Ananda Gunasekera. "We are happy to have dedicated staff supervised by Consultant Dr. Jayasekera, to ensure that quality standards are adhered to".

Speaking to the Sunday Observer with regard to blood donation drives and camps, Dr. Gunasekera said, "Despite the recent controversy, we have managed to exceed the collection target of 300,000 pints of blood last year from donors around the country". The Director hoped that the general public would realise that donating blood is essential because of the war situation in the country. He said, "We are planning to revive our blood donation drives and plans are already under way in taking complete checks of the stores and stocks to see for expired packs and to make space for new ones.

One of their main objectives is to decentralise the specialist services that are offered at the 5 regional centres coming under the purview of the NBTS.Dr. Gunasekera said, "We will re-establish three other centres to offer a comprehensive recruitment program of medical officers to help in blood donation and transfusion". He said that OPDs are usually over-staffed around the island so they are aiming at training these extra medical officers to meet any exigencies. "By next month, we are taking the NBTS staff to undergo training programmes to better their expertise" said Dr. Gunasekera.

They hope to have fully-functional regional centres with qualified staff in every district to work like a sub-NBTS centre.

Another point that was highlighted by the NBTS Director was that they are uplifting their technology by purchasing affordable and high-quality equipment. "We have a good budget for the start of the new year 2009 but we have to be wise on how we dispense funds as we have to think of a cost-effective manner of purchasing", he said. They were hopeful to computerise their data so that it will be easier to get a better synopsis of the NBTS system.

"Under our new management, we are implementing a good strategy to make Sri Lanka one of the best countries in the area of blood donation and transfusion and hope the people have faith in our vision too", concluded the NBTS Director.