I am a father of a five-year old boy who has Beta Thalassemia and requires blood transfusion every month. My son blood type is O-positive.
Many times when we go to the clinic at the paediatrics children's hospital at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, there is no blood available for the children who need transfusion.
I myself donate blood on a regular basis and I do also encourage family and friends to donate as well. Last week my son went for a transfusion but I was told by the doctor there was no O-positive blood and we had to be turned away.
I can also remember as well that last November I donated a pint of blood and I had the slip from the Blood Bank with my son's name on it, only to be told that doesn't guarantee you get blood from the Blood Bank.
I would like to know what the National Blood Transfusion Services of Trinidad and Tobago and the Minister of Health Dr Fuad Khan are doing to address these issues that affect citizens who genuinely have a medical condition and need the transfusion to live a normal healthy life.
I would like the public to know I am not the only parent with such horror stories as this; there are parents we have spoken to who have children with sickle cell disease and experience similar or worse within the public health system.
It is my hope that the Honourable Minister of Health can in some way work with the Blood Bank to make the system more efficient to service the public.
Vishnu Suraj
San Juan