adminSHAH ALAM, June 16 (Bernama) — The National Blood Centre is aiming to increase Malaysia’s blood donation rate to at least three per cent of the current population to ensure a stable blood supply capable of meeting growing demand.
National Blood Centre Deputy Director Dr Tun Maizura Mohd Fathullah said the country’s blood donation rate currently stands at 2.3 per cent, equivalent to 23 donors for every 1,000 people.
“Therefore, we need to raise public awareness so that this rate can reach at least three per cent, or 30 donors for every 1,000 people.
“This increase is important to meet the needs of thalassaemia patients, surgical cases, women in childbirth and accident victims who require an immediate blood supply,” she said after receiving a contribution of 2,250 blood bags through the UiTM Cares Grand Blood Donation Campaign at Dewan Agung Tuanku Canselor (DATC), Universiti Teknologi MARA, here today.
Tun Maizura said blood stocks at the National Blood Centre remain sufficient at present, but collections must be carried out continuously due to consistent demand and the limited shelf life of blood components.
“Platelets can only be stored for five days, while red blood cells have a storage period of between 35 and 42 days,” she said.
Elaborating further, she said efforts to recruit new donors must be intensified to replace existing donors who will eventually reach the maximum blood donation age limit of 70 years.
According to her, the need is also driven by the increasing number of government hospitals, which has led to higher demand for blood supplies and greater medical workloads.
She also encouraged members of the public to become regular donors by donating blood every three months rather than only coming forward during emergencies or periods of blood shortages.
“To balance the high demand, the National Blood Centre continuously monitors stock levels of all blood groups, particularly Group O, as nearly 50 per cent of Malaysians belong to this blood group,” she said.
Earlier, the UiTM Cares Grand Blood Donation Campaign, launched by the Health Minister’s Political Secretary, Mohammad Faisal Ismail and accompanied by UiTM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Norazah Abd Rahman, successfully attracted 2,255 donors between 10 am and 5 pm.
The campaign, which involved participation from UiTM staff and students across 21 campuses nationwide, served as an important platform in helping to secure the country’s blood supply, particularly in the Klang Valley, where between 600 and 700 blood bags are required daily for various medical procedures.
— BERNAMA
