200 pints needed daily, says Health Minister at blood drive
Fifty pints of blood are needed daily to keep a healthy supply in the blood bank at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva.
Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete started the blood drive for Suva at the ministry headquarters in Toorak yesterday.
“200 pints is the daily national requirement of blood while for Suva alone it is 50. A pint is equivalent to 450 millilitres,” Dr Waqainabete said as he gave blood.
“That is the number of people we need to come in on a daily basis. At the moment we are doing well in other centres while we are running a bit low in Suva, in terms of blood supply to the blood bank. “The demand for blood has surged as a result of haemorrhagic dengue cases.”
The Suva Blood Bank requires relatives of the patient to donate blood as a means of replenishment, however, there is hope that they would be able to move away from this practice as more people come forward on a voluntary basis. Dr Waqainabete said medical science had made advancements and hospitals in Fiji were equipped with medicine that stopped intravenous bleeding. “This drug was made for soldiers but it is now being used in hospitals. This is one of the reasons why we require less blood now,” he said.
“This drug also means help for people whose religion does not allow blood transfusion.” Dr Waqaiunabete urged people to come forward and donate blood. He said blood donation equated to giving life.