The Ministry of Health is ramping up efforts to boost the national blood supply with the launch of a National Blood Donation Drive on Saturday.

Speaking at the launch of a National Blood Donation Drive, Health Minister Dr. Lackram Bodoe said Trinidad and Tobago does not currently have enough blood on hand to comfortably meet national health recommendations.

“There is a significant gap, the ideal amount of blood that should be donated based on international requirements for our population should be in the region of about 40,000 units per year. Currently we are doing about 19,000 to 20,000 units. Following Covid there has been a little cut down in terms of the numbers. But I believe we would have reached to about 23,000 to 24,000 previously.”