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Oman joins countries around world to mark blood donor day
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman on Saturday joined countries around the world in celebrating World Blood Donor Day, which falls on June 14th every year.
The day is held under the slogan: 'Donate Blood, Give Hope: Together We Save Lives.' The day is held to honour those who contribute to saving the lives of others through their voluntary and continuous blood donations, and to enhance community awareness of the importance of this noble humanitarian act.
Mohsen bin Saif Al-Sharyani, Head of the Donor Affairs Section at the Blood Bank Services Department at the Ministry of Health, told the Oman News Agency: 'Last year, the Central Blood Bank in Bausher witnessed a 4 percent increase in the number of blood units compared to 2023. The number of blood units collected through the Ministry of Health's blood banks reached 83,694, with Omanis constituting 90 percent of the total donors.'
He explained that the number of blood component donations last year at the Central Blood Bank in Bausher amounted to 2,636 donations, while the number of blood donation campaigns amounted to 381.
He noted that 40 percent of blood donations were in the donation campaigns, while 60 percent were in the Central Blood Bank building in Bausher.
He emphasised that 98 percent of donations were voluntary, reflecting a growing sense of social responsibility among individuals.
The percentage of new donors reached 46 percent, demonstrating the expansion of the donor community.
He added that the blood types most in demand in the Sultanate of Oman vary according to clinical conditions, explaining that type O- is the most important in emergency cases, as it can be given to any patient, regardless of their blood type.
He pointed out that blood donation is a fundamental pillar of support for the health sector in the Sultanate of Oman, particularly with regard to organ transplants carried out recently.
He emphasised that these operations rely heavily on the availability of blood components, particularly platelets, due to their vital role in maintaining the stability of patients' health after transplantation.
He explained that the continued flow of voluntary blood donations directly contributes to supporting such delicate and sensitive medical procedures.
Blood transfusion services in the Sultanate of Oman are vital services that receive continuous support and monitoring from the Ministry of Health.
All blood units undergo rigorous laboratory testing to ensure their safety and freedom from infectious diseases before being transferred to patients in need.
Branch blood banks located throughout the Sultanate of Oman's governorates and referral hospitals receive blood donors to meet their blood type needs.
Field donation campaigns are also organised periodically in government and private institutions, universities, and colleges, in cooperation with volunteer teams and community initiatives.
Adel bin Ali Al-Maashari, Campaigns Supervisor of the Oman Blood Donor Team, told the Oman News Agency that blood donation campaigns constitute a vital link between blood banks and members of the community, as they effectively contribute to reaching a wide range of citizens and residents in various locations such as universities, shopping malls, and government and private institutions.
He pointed out that these campaigns are not limited to collecting blood units, but rather play a significant role in raising awareness and health education.
He emphasised that blood donation campaigns are an effective awareness platform for disseminating accurate medical information about the benefits of blood donation, in addition to correcting misconceptions and encouraging community participation.
He said that one of the campaigns the team recently implemented in the Wilayat of Saham attracted more than 800 blood donors, reflecting growing community awareness of the importance of blood donation and individuals' engagement with the awareness messages conveyed by these campaigns.
By adopting sustainable health policies, the Sultanate of Oman seeks to achieve self-sufficiency in safe blood units by expanding the base of regular donors, promoting a culture of repeat donations, and intensifying awareness campaigns.
The Ministry of Health calls on all citizens and residents of the Sultanate of Oman to continue supporting this humanitarian mission, as it directly saves the lives of others and promotes the spirit of solidarity and human connection, in addition to the health and psychological benefits accruing to the donors themselves.
