Donate, blood bank short of stock

The Bausher Blood Bank (BBB), the central blood store in the Sultanate, has urged donors to help meet the required stock as it was facing a supply shortage.

During Ramadhan, believers either don’t turn up to donate blood as fasting involves nearly 15 hours of abstinence from food and water or very few show up post-iftar to donate blood.

Now that the holy month is coming to a close and people are getting ready for long holidays, the blood bank has requested donors to come forward to donate blood. Donors can register at the Bausher Blood Bank between 8 am and 8 pm.

“Alternatively, donors can call on 24591255 and confirm if he/she can donate blood on a particular day,” said a source.

Authorities had earlier said blood donation during Ramadhan is safe. There has been a 75-per cent dip in Muslim donors this month. However, a few non-Muslims have continued to donate blood.

“Although there is a shortage of supply at the bank, we have collected sufficient number of blood units for the month,” the source said.