MUSCAT: The blood banks in the Sultanate of Oman are facing severe shortages during the holy month of Ramadhan as they have received only 308 donors for blood and 24 for platelets against the requirements of than 2,700 blood and 260 platelet donors to meet patients' needs.
The Central Blood Bank in a statement said that it needs ten platelet donors daily as the need continues to save the lives of many patients and those injured in accidents, burns, major surgeries such as open heart, organ transplantation such as marrow or liver transplantation, cases of severe bleeding, women during childbirth, newborn children (premature), and patients who suffer from a deficiency of platelets.
Platelets are used in the treatment of cancer patients, especially those undergoing chemotherapy, as they need frequent platelet transfusions throughout the treatment period.
Blood donation times during the holy month at the Central Blood Bank in Bausher are from 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm and from 8 am to 12:30 pm (Sunday - Thursday). The last time to donate platelets is 10:30 pm.
For platelets, blood donation is made using a device to separate blood cells, which are collected in designated bags and separated from the rest of the blood components by the device. It takes about 45 to 60 minutes.
The donor must be in good health, weight must be more than (50 kg), and haemoglobin level must be normal.
The donor must be between 18 and 60 years of age and must have donated blood at least twice during the last two years without any complications during or after donation, such as dizziness and fainting.
More than a month has passed since the last blood donation and must not have taken aspirin or other painkillers, drugs containing aspirin within the past 10 days. Platelets can be donated once every 15 days.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
