Sunday 08 / June / 2025
Muscat: Blood donation saving many patients’ lives who are most in need of blood transfusion.The need for blood donation has doubled, particularly in some extraordinary circumstances such as the on-going COVID-19 outbreak.
Dr Zainab bint Salim Al Fanna al-Araimi, Director of Blood Banks Services at the Ministry of Health pointed out that there are a large number of patients need a blood transfusion including patients with genetic blood diseases such as sickle cells anaemia and thalassemia, tumours patients or who suffering from traffic accidents and have lost a lot of blood, as well as patients undergo open surgeries.
Due to COVID-19 and the limited time during Ramadhan for donation, it has been noticed a reduction in the number of blood donors up to 40% in the Central Blood Bank.
Al-Araimi added that over the past years, especially during Ramadhan, we used to organize blood donation campaigns in the mosques and markets, however, in this current situation in the world, as well in the Sultanate, the number of donors has been decreased, as Muslims can only donate after breaking fasting till 12 a.m. in the midnight.
Certainly, this period of time is not enough to collect the daily requirement of blood units, where Muscat Governorate needs 70 – 100 blood units daily to supply the Governorate health institutions. Therefore, if there is any shortage in the bloodstock, we will immediately contact the donors to cover the shortfall.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Dr Zainab assured that the Department has taken all the necessary measures to protect donors in the Central Blood Bank including the social distance between each donor and other, and determining the number of donors in each time. Moreover, the appointment system was activated through WhatsApp (94555648).
In addition, when entering the Department of Blood Banks Services, all individuals will get a mask and gloves and measuring the body temperature before starting any blood donation actions.
Al-Araimi indicated that resident blood donors will be received during Ramadhan from 8 a.m. till 1 p.m. in the Sultanate and from 7 p.m. till 12 a.m. for whoever wants to donate.
Furthermore, Dr Zainab added that Al-Seeb Sports Complex has been prepared to receive a large number of blood donors from citizens and residents, as the heavily populated Wilayat of Al-Seeb will be a great tributary for the Central Blood Bank during the remaining days of Ramadhan.
The Director of Blood Banks Services assured that the Department is taking every precaution to curb the risk of infection transmission of COVID-19 to blood donors during the blood donation process for the safety of all.
