Bandung Red Cross being bled dry

Antara, Bandung

The number of blood donors in Bandung has fallen during the first few days of Ramadhan, a spokesman for the Bandung chapter of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) said on Saturday.

Since Ramadhan began on Wednesday, PMI Bandung received only 50 blood pouches a day, a drop from the usual 100 to 150 blood pouches, said Muhammad Husni.

Husni said the fall in donations was because many people in Bandung people, especially university students, returned to their hometowns for the beginning of Ramadhan.

He said the number of blood donors would return to normal after the second week of Ramadhan.

As of Saturday, PMI Bandung had 3,341 blood pouches in stock.

The lack of blood donors is concerning because PMI Bandung is continuing to use the amount of blood stocks each day, namely between 200 and 250 blood pouches.

"If the number of donors does not pick up, we are afraid that we will run out of blood soon," said Husni.

To encourage people to donate blood, PMI Bandung will be open during Ramadhan from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., instead of closing a 4 p.m. like normal, Husni said.

PMI volunteers are also visiting mosques and churches to encourage people to donate blood, he said.

According to Husni, one of the constant problems facing the organization was finding blood types A and AB. From approximately every 500 blood pouches, only 70 will be from blood types A or AB.

PMI Bandung is also preparing medical volunteers to man police posts across Bandung during Idul Fitri. The volunteers will provide first aid for accident victims during the holiday.

"The demand for blood usually increases during the holiday because of an increase in road accidents," Husni said.