Blood donors can donate blood during lockdown
Any adult who hasn't traveled out of Oman in the last 4 months can donate blood at the Central Blood Bank in Bausher. To travel to blood bank one has to send the word 'PERMIT' to Whatsapp number 94555648, and a message allowing the person to travel to and from the blood bank will be sent back
Published: 04:07 PM,Jul 14,2021 | EDITED : 07:07 PM,Jul 14,2021
Blood donors can donate
Blood donation activity will continue even during the lockdown. Those who want to donate blood during the lockdown period can do so, according to the Central Blood Bank, Ministry of Health (MoH) Bausher.
A temporary arrangement has been made with the authorities to allow those who travel to the Blood Bank to help donors and support those who need blood.
'Donors can move to the Central Blood Bank which will remain open during the holidays and lockdown and donate blood at the Centre as we have made a special arrangement with the authorities concerned,” Dr Zainab bint Salim al Araimi, Director of Blood Banks Services at the Ministry of Health, told the Observer.
To avail of the permit, one has to send the word 'PERMIT' to Whatsapp number 94555648, and a message allowing the person to travel to and from the blood bank will be sent back.
However, the Blood bank will not function on the first day of Eid and Fridays (from 3pm to 8pm). Other days, the Bank will remain open from 8am to 3pm.
Meanwhile, the only blood bank in Oman is seeking donors to support its efforts in collecting a sufficient number of units to cover the long holidays and the lockdown period as people wouldn't be venturing out in view of the lockdown.
'We would like to urge all individuals, public and private organisations to conduct blood donation camps and to reach out the maximum number of donors to help the Bank secure enough blood units for the upcoming holidays,' adds she.
DONATION CAMPS
Many organisations have shown interest in conducting blood donation camps. However, for the lack of proper information, some of them could not organise the camps, according to some blood donors.
'Anyone or any organisation can conduct a blood donation camp in consultation with the Bausher Blood Bank and any such gesture is more than welcome,' said Kala Praveen, one of the organisers of the recent mass blood donation campaign organised by the 'Nanma Kasargod', a group of expats from Kasargod district, in Association with Central Blood Bank Royal Hospital Bausher. Rajan, Chairman; Praveen Kumar, President; Sreenath, General Secretary; and Rakesh, Treasurer, coordinated the donors.
A large number of donors took part in the one-day blood donation camp.
Speaking about the initiative, Viswan Pady, welfare convenor
said, 'Nanma Kasaragod is a group of expatriates that organises social, cultural and welfare activities in Oman for the past eight years and feel very happy and proud that the blood donation camp that helped the blood bank was a successful one.'
Several women and youngsters volunteered to donate blood, and it is expected that more associations and alumni organisations are currently in touch with the Blood Bank to organise blood donation camps and help reduce the shortage of blood units to some extent in Oman during this pandemic.
'Any NGO or governmental organisation registered with the Ministry of Social Development or any company that has legal entity can conduct a blood donation drive in coordination with the Central Blood Bank,' adds Dr Zainab.
'Any adult who hasn't traveled out of Oman in the last 4 months can donate blood at the Central Blood Bank in Bausher and all he or she has to do is just take a booking so that Covid-19 protocols can be followed.'
As many as 600 to 700 units of blood are in demand at the blood bank in a week while the supply is much lesser. The supply has come down by 40 per cent and is likely to continue owing to the pandemic, and some donors cannot donate blood for some reasons. These reasons include individuals who are tested positive for Covid-19 or are afraid of contracting the virus if they are exposed to medical instruments, which is, in fact, an unfounded fear.
A temporary arrangement has been made with the authorities to allow those who travel to the Blood Bank to help donors and support those who need blood.
'Donors can move to the Central Blood Bank which will remain open during the holidays and lockdown and donate blood at the Centre as we have made a special arrangement with the authorities concerned,” Dr Zainab bint Salim al Araimi, Director of Blood Banks Services at the Ministry of Health, told the Observer.
To avail of the permit, one has to send the word 'PERMIT' to Whatsapp number 94555648, and a message allowing the person to travel to and from the blood bank will be sent back.
However, the Blood bank will not function on the first day of Eid and Fridays (from 3pm to 8pm). Other days, the Bank will remain open from 8am to 3pm.
Meanwhile, the only blood bank in Oman is seeking donors to support its efforts in collecting a sufficient number of units to cover the long holidays and the lockdown period as people wouldn't be venturing out in view of the lockdown.
'We would like to urge all individuals, public and private organisations to conduct blood donation camps and to reach out the maximum number of donors to help the Bank secure enough blood units for the upcoming holidays,' adds she.
DONATION CAMPS
Many organisations have shown interest in conducting blood donation camps. However, for the lack of proper information, some of them could not organise the camps, according to some blood donors.
'Anyone or any organisation can conduct a blood donation camp in consultation with the Bausher Blood Bank and any such gesture is more than welcome,' said Kala Praveen, one of the organisers of the recent mass blood donation campaign organised by the 'Nanma Kasargod', a group of expats from Kasargod district, in Association with Central Blood Bank Royal Hospital Bausher. Rajan, Chairman; Praveen Kumar, President; Sreenath, General Secretary; and Rakesh, Treasurer, coordinated the donors.
A large number of donors took part in the one-day blood donation camp.
Speaking about the initiative, Viswan Pady, welfare convenor
said, 'Nanma Kasaragod is a group of expatriates that organises social, cultural and welfare activities in Oman for the past eight years and feel very happy and proud that the blood donation camp that helped the blood bank was a successful one.'
Several women and youngsters volunteered to donate blood, and it is expected that more associations and alumni organisations are currently in touch with the Blood Bank to organise blood donation camps and help reduce the shortage of blood units to some extent in Oman during this pandemic.
'Any NGO or governmental organisation registered with the Ministry of Social Development or any company that has legal entity can conduct a blood donation drive in coordination with the Central Blood Bank,' adds Dr Zainab.
'Any adult who hasn't traveled out of Oman in the last 4 months can donate blood at the Central Blood Bank in Bausher and all he or she has to do is just take a booking so that Covid-19 protocols can be followed.'
As many as 600 to 700 units of blood are in demand at the blood bank in a week while the supply is much lesser. The supply has come down by 40 per cent and is likely to continue owing to the pandemic, and some donors cannot donate blood for some reasons. These reasons include individuals who are tested positive for Covid-19 or are afraid of contracting the virus if they are exposed to medical instruments, which is, in fact, an unfounded fear.