The Department of Blood Banks Services (DBBS) at the Central Blood Bank in Bausher has called on donors to come forward and donate blood and platelets to help save lives which are in need of the life-saving liquid.
There has been a dip in the number of donors who turned out to donate blood during the holy month and the DBBS has made an appeal to those who have not travelled out of Oman in the past few months to come forward and donate blood and platelets.
“However, there have been efforts from NGOs and other organisations, corporates to conduct blood donation camps to support the authority to cope with the demand and that has really helped us,” a spokesperson has said.
Those who are fasting can donate after they break their fast and those who are not fasting can donate even during the day time.
“The capital city alone needs close to 120 blood units daily and more than 6,000 blood units monthly. There’s a shortage of supply over the past few weeks and those who can donate are requested to come forward,” he adds.
Reports suggest that the number of patients who need blood transfusion, including patients with genetic blood disorders such as sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia, patients with tumours or victims of traffic accidents and patients undergoing open surgeries in hospitals across the country.
The DBBS has been organising blood donation campaigns during the holy month at various mosques and public places. Nonetheless, not many donors were reported to come forward as they can only do so after breaking the fast. And this has necessitated a public call for blood units.
Those who have not travelled away from Oman for the past four months, or those who donated more than a month ago or those who are willing to do so can approach the blood bank in Bausher and take part in the blood and platelets donation campaign.
Blood donation timings in Ramadhan: 7:30 pm to 11.30 pm every day and from 8 am till 12.30 pm from Sunday to Thursday.
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