Post Eid ul Fitr 1435 Hijri, blood stock in Blood Donor Unit (UDD) of Jakarta Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) keeps thinning. The current blood stock available is only 130 bags. Whereas, the demand for blood in hospitals every day reaches 800 bags.

Because blood stock is thinning, we rely on the patient’s family members as blood donors

Head of Jakarta PMI Blood Supply Division, Dian Winarti, said that blood stock is usually reaching 1,000-1,200 bags per day. But, at this time there are only 130 bags consist of blood type A 30 bags, type B 30 bags, type AB 10 bags, and type O 60 bags. Short of blood stock is due to lack of blood donors during and after Eid ul Fitr.

“The amount of blood donors keeps decreasing, while blood demand in hospitals reaches 800 bags per day,” she told, Tuesday (8/5).

To solve the shortage of blood, Winarti stated that Jakarta PMI prioritizes blood provision for emergency cases, like for patients who are going to labor. But if the patients were not in emergency situation, their family members will be asked to donate their blood.

“ Because blood stock is thinning, we rely on the patient’s family members as blood donors ,” she explained.

According to Winarti, to increase blood stock, Jakarta PMI keeps conducting socialization on the radio and coordinating with related units, such as the national army and police. Not only that, blood donation activities are also continuously held at the malls and worship places through blood donor mobile.

“Blood stock is usually back to normal around 1-2 weeks after Eid ul Fitr. This is because mostly blood donors have returned to Jakarta,” she uttered.