Jakarta is facing blood shortage, Red Cross says

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)