Blood Donation Vital To Ensure Constant Supply
By Syed Rory Malai Hassan

Ban Dar Seri Begawan - Constant supply of blood is crucial for hospitals and health centres for it can save lives and it is an essential product which can neither be manufactured nor synthesised.

Blood types or blood groups are categorised into four classes: Group A, B, AB and O.

According to the Minister of Health in an address marking the 2006 World Blood Donation Day, donated blood in Brunei is at a satisfactory level; however blood donation is continuously needed in order to avoid shortage in the blood bank.

According to the 2006 statistics some 10,841 units were collected of which 3,102 were from walk ins at the blood donation centre at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (Ripas) Hospital. The other 7,739 units were collected through mobile collections. The same year also saw a use of 10,446 units of blood from the total amount collected used to save lives.

The Ministry of Health provides the collection service upon request by private establishments, government offices and others in their drive to support the need for constant blood supply vital in operations and transfusions. Over the past three months many private companies, government departments and schools have organised blood donation campaigns assisted by the ministry.

The Royal Brunei Police Force itself has organised a three month long blood donation drive where all police stations throughout the country are involved in the collection of blood from their staff and personnel.

According to the Health Ministry potential donors must be between 18-60 years of age, weighing at least 50 kilograms and is free from colds, fever and other illnesses at the time of donation.

Those who will benefit from the blood donated include cancer and leukemia patients, surgical patients and premature infants, victims of accidents, fire or serious burns, patients with serious injuries and those with serious blood disorders such as thalassaemia, haemophilia and sickle cell disease. Donating blood for men can be done every three months while women every four months.

Donating blood saves lives and according to the 2006 theme for World Blood Donor day: "I am a blood donor and I save lives", the benefits for donors are plenty as well.

Some say that one of the more fulfilling benefits for donating blood is the knowledge of being able to save a life even just by donating a pint.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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