To mark the annual World Blood Donor Day, the Health Bureau (SSM) held a raft of activities on Sunday, including an award ceremony for blood donors who donated blood more than five times last year, and on Friday the bureau presented special souvenirs to people who donated blood on that day – World Blood Donor Day – at the Macau Blood Transfusion Service (MBTS), according to an SSM statement yesterday.
Started in 2005 by the World Health Assembly (WHA), World Blood Donor Day is celebrated every year on June 14.
In Sunday’s award ceremony for blood donors who donated blood more than five times last year, a total of 1,063 donors were awarded, the statement said, adding that 137 residents had registered to donate blood on World Blood Donor Day at the MBTS.
According to the statement, Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long pointed out on Sunday that with the ageing population and the prevalence of chronic diseases in Macau, the demand for blood was increasing. To meet the current demand for blood in Macau’s hospitals, more than about 2,000 donors are required each month, i.e., about 70 donors are required each day, Lo said.
Lo also pointed out that statistics provided by the bureau shows that a total of 14,200 residents registered to donate blood last year, while 3,787 patients received a total of 16,271 units of blood or blood components.
Generally, healthy individuals aged between 17 and 69 can donate blood. While male donors can give blood every three months, female donors can give blood every four months.
The bureau regularly encourages healthy members of the public to donate blood habitually. Anyone who intends to donate blood can make an appointment on the MBTS website at https://www.ssm.gov.mo/cts/blook-ser/preson-make.
The Macau Blood Transfusion Service (MBTS) operates under the Health Bureau and is the only institution supplying blood and its derivatives in the city. It was set up in 1988 with the cost fully borne by the government. Blood supply is provided to all patients in need through local hospitals.
The address of the MBTS is 335-341 Alameda Dr Carlos d’ Assumpção, Hotline Building, 2/F, Nape.
This undated handout photo provided by the Health Bureau (SSM) shows a blood donor and two nurses posing at the Macau Blood Transfusion Service (MBTS) for the annual World Blood Donor Day.
