KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government is encouraging people in the state to come forward to donate blood following the decline in blood supply due to the implementation of a series of various movement control orders (MCO).

State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said although hospitals under the Ministry of Health in the state had taken various measures to ensure there was adequate blood supply, blood donation activities had declined since the third wave of the COVID-19 infection.

Masidi, who is also the state government’s spokesman for COVID-19, said the issue had worsened during Ramadan, and was expected to continue until the Kaamatan Festival later this month.

“It is estimated that this year, the blood supply in Sabah will decline by 20 per cent due to the cancellation of more than 200 blood donation campaigns involving an initial target of 6,000 donors. The decline must be addressed immediately, so that the blood supply stock for patients does not reach a critical level, that could affect the patients’ care," he said in a statement, tonight.

He said Sabah's blood transfusion service was currently targeting to collect blood from 1,800 donors a week to meet needs and for stocks to remain at a safe level.

Commenting on the COVID-19 situation in Sabah, Masidi said 63 new cases were reported today, taking the cumulative total in the state to 58,796 cases, while one death was recorded in Sandakan.

He said 98 patients were also discharged from the hospital today, taking the total number of those recovered from the disease to 57,597.

-- BERNAMA