People urged to donate blood during Raya holidays

The number of blood donors has dropped by almost 40 percent in the month of Ramadan, causing the National Blood Centre (PDN) to experience a shortage of blood supply.

As such, PDN director Dr Noryati Abu Amin urged Malaysians to come forward to donate blood as some 2,000 bags of blood were needed daily nationwide, including 500 blood bags per day in the Klang Valley alone.

"Besides emergency cases, blood supply is also needed for thalassaemia and cancer patients," she told Bernama here.

She said it was feared that the centre would be unable to cope with the demand for blood supplies that would peak during Aidilfitri.

"What is most worrying is the need for supply for the first two weeks of Syawal. People don't come to donate blood because they are busy celebrating Aidilfitri with their families while the non-Muslims are also in a holiday mood," she said.

In preparing for critical situations, she said, the PDN and hospitals had also intensified the blood-donation campaign throughout Ramadan by extending the blood donation hour at PDN and organising blood drive at mosques and other houses of worship during night-time.

-- BERNAMA