Blood supply stock during MCO dips by 40 per cent

The country’s blood supply stocks at the National Blood Centre and blood banks nationwide during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period had dipped by 40 per cent compared to previous years.

“For example, 111,328 packs of blood were collected from March 2018 to May 2018 while only 67,135 packs were collected from March to May this year.

“It is found that the amount of blood collected throughout the MCO was only 60 per cent of the target,” Health director-general, Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a press conference here today.

The amount of blood collected throughout the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) period so far was also unsatisfactory at only 57 per cent of the target.

“The drop is worrying considering more elective services are being carried out at hospitals, including surgeries (which means an increase from an average of 9,000 packs per week to 13,076 packs per week).

“There has also been a five to 10 per cent increase in the number of accident cases requiring hospital treatment,” he added.

While stressing that there should always be ample blood supply, Dr Noor Hisham said blood transfusion was crucial for medical procedures at health facilities, like hospitals, especially for the treatment of accident victims, pregnant women with bleeding complications, premature infants, cancer and thalassemia patients as well as those undergoing major surgeries.

Expecting fewer people to donate blood during the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations as well as during other festivities, he urged the public to come forward and donate blood at the National Blood Centre or at any blood bank nationwide to ensure there was sufficient supply.

He said the operating hours of the National Blood Centre and blood banks had been extended till 9 pm during Ramadan to make it easier for the public to donate blood after breaking fast.

The public can get more information on blood donation from the National Blood Centre website a href="http://www.pdn.gov.my"www.pdn.gov.my/a, the National Blood Centre Facebook page, the Ministry of Health website and the various blood banks nationwide.

-- BERNAMA