The Fiji National Blood service has called on people to donate blood voluntarily as a blood drive is expected to be conducted at the Bank of Baroda premises Ba branch from 9am to 4pm today.

Divisional Manager Western, Jaynesh Narayan has raised concern that only one percent of Western residents donate blood voluntarily for the reminder of the population in Ba.

Narayan adds Lautoka Hospital will have a New Zealand Cardiac team from beginning on next month providing free treatment to patients and they desperate need blood.

He confirms these heart patients are those who cannot afford for treatment overseas and each patient needs to have atleast five units of blood on standby.