KOTA BARU – The blood supply at Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital (HRPZ II) is enough to last only three days, said director Datuk Dr Selasawati Ghazali.
She said the facility has been unable to hold blood donation drives due to the Covid-19 pandemic and movement curbs put in place to stem the disease.
“Previously, we often held blood donation programmes involving university students, as well as at supermarkets, but due to the current situation, such as the enforcement of the movement control order, the programmes cannot be held.
“Our blood supply now depends on those who come straight to the hospital to donate,” she said, urging would-be donors to do so.
Dr Selasawati was speaking to Bernama at the 2021 Semarak Kasih Amal Charity Mega Blood Donation campaign, held at the HRPZII Transfusion Medicine Department, today.
More than 100 volunteers from the Kelantan Amal Department turned up to donate blood.
Dr Selasawati said an average of 80 to 100 bags of blood are required daily to meet the needs of the state’s 12 hospitals, of which nine are government-owned.
Allaying public fears of donating blood amid the virus threat, HRPZ II Transfusion Medicine Unit head Dr Rahimah Abdul Wahab said strict measures are always observed.
“Those who want to donate can visit the HRPZ II blood transfusion centre, which is open from Sunday to Thursday, from 8am to 5pm. Health workers wear personal protective equipment, and donors are required to wear masks at all times. The donor beds are also spaced at least 1m apart.
“People living in red zones, and those with symptoms, are not allowed to donate blood.” – Bernama, January 16, 2021
