KOTA KINABALU – With blood supply in hospitals throughout Sabah at a critical level, the state branch of the Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) is helping local blood banks carry out blood donation programmes.
Leslie Chan, the chief coordinator of the Sabah Covid-19 pandemic blood donation programme, said that the spread of the virus has badly affected blood supplies in the state.
At least 300 pints of blood are needed per day for hospitals throughout the state, he said.
“The blood bank units of Queen Elizabeth I Hospital, Kudat Hospital and Tuaran Hospital had to be closed temporarily due to a case in October where a hospital staff was suspected of being positive for Covid-19.
“Because of this, blood donors do not dare to come to the hospital to donate,” he said.
The situation has led to the Sabah Blood Bank Unit to borrow blood from Kuala Lumpur Hospital and Sarawak hospitals twice – involving a total of 600 pints in March 2020 and 850 pints in September 2020.
He said MRC understands that blood transfusions are important in the treatment of patients especially accident victims, pregnant mothers with bleeding complications, premature babies, cancer and Thalassemia patients, as well as those undergoing major surgery.
“Therefore, to address this, the Sabah state MRC together with the Sabah Council of Social Service, Sabah Thalassemia Association and Queen Elizabeth II Hospital’s blood bank unit are carrying out a blood donation programme which complies with the guidelines and procedures for handling blood donation activities issued by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH).”
Chan said the blood donation programme will be held from 9am to 4pm every weekend (Friday to Sunday) from November 6 until 29 at the Sabah Red Crescent building in Likas.
The event is also sponsored by Lions Club of Kota Kinabalu (KK) Sutera, Lions Club of KK City Park, Lions Club of KK City and Lions Club of KK Lintas
“As such we are pleading with all Sabahans to generously come forward to donate blood to help those patients who are suffering in hospital due to a lack of blood.”
The state has had to replenish some 80,000 pints of blood to treat at least 1,819 thalassemia patients and hundreds more suffering from anemia.
An average of 70,000 units of blood are transfused statewide each year but the amount needed this time is higher
Sabah has the highest number of thalassemia patients in Malaysia, and is second highest for anemia.
MRC has had to organise blood donation drives outside hospital areas as donors are scared of being near medical facilities amid the pandemic. – The Vibes, November 4, 2020
