Blood Transfusions in Bali

Republic on Line reports that continuing demands for blood transfusions in Bali are causing Bali’s blood bank to run low on blood and plasma stocks.

Dr. Gusti Lanang Rudiartha, the Red Cross coordinator for Bali, said, “we are having problems finding volunteer blood donors when, in fact, there are a large number of hospitals seeking blood each month.”

In comments made to the press on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, Rudiartha told the press that a number of steps have been taken to persuade the public to become blood donors, including appeals via local banjars or community associations. The Red Cross official, who also serves as a Director of the Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar, explained further: “We already tried to undertake blood drives via organizations, government bodies and companies involving hundreds of people. But we have only managed to secure 20 to 30 bags of blood.”

The Sanglah General Hospital needs 100-200 bags of blood each month, which does not include the demand from other hospital in Bali which requires another 80 bags of blood each month.

To maintain adequate supplies the Bali blood bank normally requires the families of patients seeking more than two bags of blood to recruit additional donors from among family and friends for blood replacement.

What’s The Problem?
Rudiartha complained that many local residents are frightened or reluctant to donate blood, despite the lack of any known negative effects linked to donating blood.

”Becoming a blood donor is similar to having a free check-up for diseases detectable in the blood such as sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS and other illnesses,” he explained. The Doctor also pointed to other benefits derived from donating blood, such as the added stimulation of the body’s metabolism as the body works to replace donated blood, a process that many blood donors claims increases the personal feeling of good health and a welcomed slight loss in weight resulting from regular blood donations.

The Bali Red Cross provided 1,617 bags of blood to the Island’s residents in 2007.

Visiting Bali? Donate Blood
If you’d to give the gift of life during your coming visit to Bali, visit the friendly folk at the Sanglah General Hospital Blood Bank - telephone ++62-(0)361-227911