Blood Shortage Looms: Community Encouraged to Step Up Ahead of Fasting Period

Blood stock levels have dropped to alarming lows in recent weeks. Javed Bolah, the Strategy and Communication Consultant for the Blood Donors Association, has voiced his deep concern over the situation, despite a slight improvement in supplies due to recent donation campaigns. He has urged the public to step up and donate, especially ahead of the fasting period, to stabilise blood stock levels.

“The demand for blood is constant,” Javed Bolah explained, emphasizing the urgent needs of dialysis patients, expectant mothers, individuals with Thalassemia, and accident victims. He pointed out that, unlike scheduled operations that allow for advance blood preparation, emergencies create sudden and unpredictable demands for blood.

One pint of blood, every 10 minutes

The situation has become critical due to a growing elderly population and a decreasing number of young donors. Currently, only 2% of healthy individuals participate in blood donation. Annually, the healthcare system requires an estimated 45,000 to 50,000 pints of blood, translating to a daily demand of 150 to 200 pints. Alarmingly, one pint of blood is required every ten minutes.

Bolah warned that this demand is projected to escalate to between 50,000 and 60,000 pints per year within the next two to three years, potentially leading to a severe blood shortage.

In response to this urgent situation, the Blood Donors Association has initiated awareness campaigns in schools and universities. One notable program is “Pledge 15” at Polytechnic Mauritius, which encourages young people to commit to donating blood at least 15 times throughout their lives.

Bolah emphasized the importance of fostering a sense of civic responsibility among younger generations, noting that only 16% of healthy women currently participate in blood donation.

To encourage more donors, the Association is proposing a tax deduction for each pint donated, a plan they intend to formally present to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health.

“We have developed a strategy to ensure a steady blood supply through 2030,” Bolah stated.

Recent donation drives in Grand-Baie, Tamarin, Flacq, and Goodlands highlight the Association’s commitment to exploring new initiatives to promote blood donation.

The call to action is clear: the community’s support is needed now more than ever. “We require new donors to avert a looming crisis.”

Source: Defi Media