Muscat: The Ministry of Health represented by the General Directorate of Health Services in Muscat Governorate, in cooperation with the Directorate of Blood Bank Services (DBBS) in Bausher, has launched a weeklong blood donation campaign to inculcate the habit of blood donation among both citizens and expatriates and to generate more blood units for the various hospitals in the country.
The event is held with the slogan ‘Every drop makes a difference’, under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmed bin Ali al Shehhi, Governor of Seeb at the Village in Al Seeb, witnessed hundreds of donors turning up to take part in the national blood donation drive.
The blood donation campaign will continue on Tuesday at the Al Khalili Majlis in Baushar Council from 4 pm to 9 pm and at the Bausher Governor’s meeting place on September 4.
Representatives from the General Directorate of Health Services, Muscat Governorate said that Oman needs an approximate number of 200 blood donors every day as there has been a drop in donations at the Central Blood Bank lately, while the demand for blood units and its components is steadily rising.
“An average of 200 blood donors and at least 100 to 140 blood units are needed every day whereas the number is steadily diminishing. We aim at helping the public continue the habit of blood donation and to educate the people that any eligible person can donate blood every six months and not every year or two years,” said Faisal al Hanashi, Training Specialist at the Directorate General of Health Services, (DGHS Muscat).
The present blood donation campaign is part of the DBBS regular blood donation campaigns in cooperation with different authorities.
The DBBS requires blood units and their components for several medical cases, which include RTA (Road Traffic Accidents), other accidents, some cases of childbirth, at times of surgical procedures, malignant blood diseases, bone marrow failure, certain genetic blood diseases, and cancerous tumors
“We call upon all citizens and residents to donate blood at the above-mentioned dates and places due to the severe current shortage of blood units and take part in the national drive,” he further said.
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