THE blood bank at the National Referral Hospital is continuously running low of blood supply to meet the demand.
This was revealed by the Medical Lab Manager at National Referral Hospital Donald Tahani in press conference on Thursday.
He said currently there is a huge difference between the amount of blood collected and the amount of blood needed at the hospital.
“Because the amount of blood collected is relatively low compared to the current demand for blood.”
He said from 2011 to 2013 the demand for blood is about eight thousands units to nine thousands units of blood.
“But now the amount of blood collected from volunteer blood donorsis just two thousands units which visibly fall below the demand line.”
Mr. Tahani said, NRH is currently in great need for blood supply to save lives of sick patients who require blood as their first form of medication to survive.
He highlighted there are blood donation programmes carried out throughout the country to make people aware of the importance of voluntary blood donation.
He said, as a result of the awareness programmes some people have come forward and donate their blood voluntary but then the amount is far less than expected.
Mr Tahani said, one of the main hindrances to blood donation programme in a Melanesian society like Solomon Islands is the culture of blood line.
“Most people will only to donate blood if the patient who is in need for blood is a family relative.
“They have this mentality that someone who is not a blood relative should not be donated blood unless he or she is a blood relative,” he added.
He said according to the population of the country, we should have at least 2% of the population voluntary donate blood regularly to save lives.
Currently the rate of blood donation is only 0.5% which he said, is far less below the demand line.
Mr. Tahani encourages the public to come forward for voluntary blood donation to save the lives of other citizens in the country.
He said, blood is one commodity that they cannot order from overseas so it’s important for the public to work together and do voluntary blood donation to support the blood bank at the NRH which is currently low on supply.
By Biriau Wilson Saeni
