Hospital appeals for blood donors

NICOSIA general hospital’s blood bank is running low on blood supplies, doctors warned yesterday.

“There is an overall blood supply shortage throughout the island,” said Dr Irene Vassou at the Blood Bank.

The problem has been so severe that thalassaemia patients’ blood transfusions as well as some surgical procedures have had to be postponed in order to keep blood for emergencies, said Health Ministry official, Dr Stala Kiouppi.

The reason the blood bank’s levels are so low is because of the summer season when everyone is away on holiday, said Kiouppi.

“People are very good about giving blood, but during the holidays in August, Christmas and Easter, blood supplies drop down drastically because people are away,” she said.
Kiouppi said the problem would be rectified as soon as donors got back into a routine.
“It’s human not to be able to donate blood when you’re busy. Schools are opening again and parents are busy rushing around. Everyone has to start getting back into a routine before they can start donating blood again. The problem should be rectified shortly,” she said.

Vassou said the blood bank welcomed donors of all blood types, but that O positive was most in demand as it could be given to all blood types
The most common blood type in Cyprus is ‘O’ positive, with 51 per cent of the population. This is followed by 40 per cent of the population who have blood type ‘A’ and the remaining 10 per cent are ‘B’ and ‘AB’ blood types, as well as negative blood types.

Donors can give blood every four months and do so on a volunteer basis after registering with the centre. The actual blood donation takes only three minutes and removes 450 millilitres from the donor. “It takes up hardly any time at all and involves 20 minutes from the time you arrive till the time you leave,” said Vassou.

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