WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY: EVERYONE ENCOURAGED TO DONATE BLOOD

USM, PULAU PINANG, 14 June 2016– Blood Bank, Transfusion Medicine Unit, Advanced Diagnostic Lab (ADL), Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (AMDI), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has been facing a shortage of blood supply during the Ramadan month.

According to the head of Transfusion Medicine Unit, ADL AMDI, Dr. Sharifah Azdiana Tuan Din, this happens as the number of donors decrease in the month of Ramadan and early Syawal.

“During the other months, there is sufficient blood supply, but this month, there is blood shortage, especially for O type,” she adds.

She explained that the blood supply in AMDI blood bank is typically used for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, as well as other patients who incur bleeding during surgery

“The Transfusion Medicine Unit has already made an announcement about the blood donation campaign after breaking fast and tarawih prayers which will be held in AMDI on the 15th of June 2016. The event is open to all,” she added.

In conjunction with World Blood Donor Day on 14 June 2016 Dr. Sharifah Azdiana hopes that more people would step forward to donate blood.

Meanwhile, the director of Pusat Sejahtera, Dr. Normala Abdul Wahid stated that they made blood donation into a key performance indicator, so they held a blood donation drive at least thrice annually.

“Alhamdulillah, so far all the blood donation campaigns held in the main campus with the help of other campuses in USM has been very successful,” explained Dr. Normala.

Pusat Sejahtera also collaborates with the Transfusion Unit of Government Hospitals and AMDI to carry out the blood donation drive.

“I hope that on World Blood Donor Day more Malaysians would donate their blood,” she said when contacted.

Text : Syuhada Abd Aziz / Photo: Norizan Ishak / Translator: Kumitaa  A/P  Theva Das