Kenneth (right) takes a photo with one of the donors today.
MIRI: Miri Hospital Blood Bank is appealing to the public to come forward to its office on Sunday (March 22) from 8.30am to 2.30pm to donate blood to help replenish its blood stock.
Miri Blood Bank public relations officer Kenneth Numan told The Borneo Post today that the call was an effort to ensure that there is sufficient blood stock to cater for the usage in hospital during this critical period.
Kenneth had previously revealed that the stock has been extremely low particularly after MCO enforcement as all mobile blood donation activities has been halted.
“Thus, we are taking the initiative to extend our office operation hours to encourage more blood donors to come forward to contribute to the blood bank,” said Kenneth.
He added that Miri Blood Bank is the only blood donation centre in the northern region of the state, which makes it constantly on high demand hence the need to restock its stock.
Kenneth also assured that the blood bank office at Miri Hospital is not located at anywhere near the patient’s wards therefore the public need not worry as there is already a new standard of procedure (SOP) in place to ensure the donor’s safety.
The new SOP will see every donor have their body temperature taken before entering the mobile area and hand sanitisers will be provided at donation site.
Any potential donors who have respiratory tract infection for 14 days from the last time they showed symptoms as well as those who have recently visited affected countries in the past 14 days from date of return to Malaysia with or without symptoms will not be allow to donate blood.
Miri Blood Bank also assured that all its staff handling donation will not be involved in managing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) patient.
Currently, the operations hours at the Blood Bank is as follows: Monday to Thursday – 8am to 12.30pm and 2.30 to 4.30pm; Friday – 8am to 11.15pm and 2.30pm to 4.30pm; Saturday and Sunday – 8.30am to 2.30pm.