MUSCAT: As everyone prepares to enjoy the Eid Al Fitr holidays with family and friends, a pressing humanitarian need should be considered the need for blood transfusions particularly for thalassemia patients, accident victims, and women experiencing difficult childbirth. While preparing for Eid, we have to do our best to ensure a safe and sustainable blood supply.
Dr Zainab bint Salem al Araimiyah, Director of the Blood Bank Services Department at the Ministry of Health, said: “The current blood supply is sufficient, but we have to ensure its sustainability during the Eid holidays as we may face a gradual decrease, particularly in negative blood types and type O+ due to high demand. There will also be a significant need for platelets which can be stored for only five days.”
Maintaining an uninterrupted blood supply is crucial, she said, adding that the number of donors drops during holidays. She noted that the Bausher Blood Bank will be open to donors on the second day of Eid from 3 pm to 8 pm and will resume its regular working hours from 8 am to 8 am on the third day of Eid. The Seeb Blood Donation Centre will be closed throughout the holiday.
She pointed out that the need for blood continues during the Eid holiday as many patients depend on regular blood transfusions, such as thalassemia and sickle cell anemia patients. Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy also require blood and its components as well as women who experience complications during childbirth. She added: “We are striving to intensify blood donation campaigns and encourage community members to donate before the Eid holiday to ensure an adequate blood supply to efficiently handle emergencies. We call on everyone to take the initiative to donate blood during these days, stressing that the focus should be particularly on negative blood types of all kinds, and blood type (O+) which are used for a wide range of patients. We also urge the donation of platelets during Eid Al Fitr holiday, due to the urgent need for platelet units for a number of medical cases.”
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