Abu Dhabi: Blood banks in the capital are bracing for shortage of supplies this summer and have urged donors to be generous.
“During summer months and the holy month of Ramadan, the number of people donating blood falls considerably, puting a lot of pressure on current supplies. We struggle to meet patients’ needs,” Dr. Naima Oumeziane, specialist physician at Abu Dhabi Blood Bank, told XPRESS.
The blood bank currently has 1,000 units of blood and 4,000 units of plasma in stock. On an average, 1,700 to 2,000 people donate blood in a month. “This will deplete to 1,000 to 1,200 during summer and that hits our supplies,” said the doctor. The blood bank, operating under the Shaikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi, is calling for more donors to come forward. The centre will be open from 7am to 2am in summer starting June.
The emergence of new medical and surgical procedures requiring blood transfusions and the opening of new hospitals in and around Abu Dhabi have caused a steep increase in demand for blood.
“Complex therapeutic procedures such as cardiovascular surgery and solid organ transplants are fast becoming viable options for an increasing proportion of older patients nowadays. Whether it is summer or not, the demand does not stop,” said Oumeziane.
