| Kuwait facing shortage of negative blood types |
| | Mon, 26 Jul 2010 |
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KUWAIT: Blood supply stocks in Kuwait have fallen to critical levels in the past two weeks. According to one senior Kuwait Central Blood Bank (KCBB) official, the summer holiday season has seen noticeable shortages in negative blood types. Dr Rana Al-Abdulrazzaq, the KCBB's Director of Donor and Medical Affairs, said the principal reason for the shortages of negative blood types is the summer holiday season, during which many donors travel abroad to escape the country's searing heat.
Dr. Al-Abdulrazzaq explained that the situation is aggravated by the simultaneous increase in hospitals' demand for blood since many people prefer to undergo surgical operations in the summer months due to having vacation time during which they can recover from surgery.
The senior blood bank official said that while the KCBB's overall stocks are at a reasonable level, the seasonal increase in the number of road accidents, which have already risen over the past two weeks alone, is likely to see demand from local hospitals further increasing.
This seasonal shortage of supplies has been an ongoing problem with certain blood types for some years now, Dr. Al-Abdulrazzaq explained, adding that the same applies to the blood bank's regular attempts to raise awareness among young people of the need to donate blood and increase their understanding of the vital and lifesaving nature of blood donation, since most blood donors tend to be middle-aged or older.
Dr. Al-Abdulrazzaq also revealed that the KCBB is organizing a number of campaigns to increase the numbers of blood donors, including the Club 25 campaign, which aims to attract donors aged under 25. KCBB volunteers will be present at the Avenues Mall every Tuesday and Wednesday evening between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM to sign up new donors and to collect blood donations there.
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