Blood shortage in Mauritius prompts urgent call for donation

Rapidly depleting stock of blood products has prompted the Blood Donors Association (BDA) to call for more donors to roll up their sleeves.

Staff and donor illness linked to rising flu and Covid-19 cases are the main reasons for falling blood stocks.

Donations are also traditionally lower in winter.

Blood groups that are most needed are A-positive, A-negative, B -negative, O-negative, et AB-negative.

According to Dewanand Hossen, President of the BDA, blood is used by patients with cancer, blood disorders, medical trauma or undergoing surgery and each donation could save or improve up to three lives.

“We urgently need more people to give blood at any of the five regional public hospitals, namely Victoria Hospital-Candos, Jeetoo Hospital-Port Louis, J. Nehru Hospital-Rose Belle, Bruno Cheong Hospital-Flacq et SSR Hospital-Pamplemousses.”

Alternatively, donors can reach out any mobile collection point.