Jakarta is facing blood shortage, Red Cross says

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) is facing a shortage of blood stocks in Jakarta due to a lack of donors over the past four months, an executive said yesterday.

Deputy chairman Kristianto Budiono said the number of blood donors had dropped drastically from an average 200 volunteers per month to less than half.

"There are certain conditions which hinder the collection of adequate blood. For instance, people have fears about giving blood during the fasting month (in January), worrying that it would break their fast," Kristianto told a City Council hearing.

A significant drop in blood donors was also recorded during the Christmas and New Year holidays, he said.

"The situation has got worse in line with the current monetary woes. People no longer seem to care about donating their blood."

Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood in the city, which requires 15,850 bags per month. Each bag contains between 200cc and 300cc of blood.

"On average, we supply 84 percent of blood needs in the city."

Kristianto said the growing number of scalpers dealing in blood exacerbated the Red Cross' blood shortage.

"Those scalpers always look for anyone who wants to give their blood in exchange for cash.

For instance, there was a scalper who asked a becak driver to give blood through unorthodox procedures, he said.

"They just did it for the money.

"The scalpers, for example, sell a bag of AB-type blood for Rp 300,000, of which Rp 200,000 is taken by the brokers and the remaining Rp 100,000 given to the donor."

In many cases, customers who get blood from scalpers are reluctant to file a report, Kristianto said.

"The customers do that as they badly need the blood. Imagine if a child is dying, of course his or her parents will do anything to get the blood."

Campaign

In response to the Red Cross' plea, city councilors vowed to support an intensified blood donation campaign.

Speaker Edy Waluyo said the council would urge the municipality to hold blood donation drives where city officials donate their blood.

The council plans to hold a routine blood donation every three months, he said.

Another councilor, Ade Suraprijatna, from the ruling Golkar faction, urged Red Cross to adjust some of its rules, such as asking the person who receives a free blood transfusion to ensure blood stocks are replenished.

Red Cross decided to cut its service charge from Rp 60,000 to Rp 35,000 in a bid to help people in need of blood transfusions during the economic crisis.

Secretary-general Soesanto Mangoensadjito said in a statement Wednesday the Rp 35,000 fee comprised Rp 6,000 for administration charges, Rp 6,500 for transportation and blood donor development, Rp 5,500 for blood bags, Rp 8,500 for blood testing and Rp 8,500 for other expenses.

Soesanto said the blood was free for patients.

In response to public fears about donating blood during the fasting month, councilor Rusjdi Hamka from the United Development Party faction reiterated there was no Islamic rule that forbid people from donating blood.

"This is a noble thing. It's neither haram (forbidden) nor will it break the fast," he said. "Blood can not be compared to money... therefore Moslems have to be educated about this. It is a matter of caring." (edt/cst)