INTERACTIVE: Blood donations flow in, but new donors dry up

PETALING JAYA: Blood donations have spiked in Malaysia over the years, but it’s mainly due to regular donors as the number of new recruits has been declining.

However, more new “blood” is needed to fulfil the country’s growing needs.

There’s an expected increase in demand for blood transfusions, with Malaysia expected to become an ageing nation by as early as 2030.

“This is coupled with the expansion of hospital services and growing number of medical centres and health tourism,” said the Health Ministry when contacted.

The ministry is targeting to get at least 3% of the population to be blood donors.

While this has yet to be achieved, the number of blood donations has risen in the past 10 years.

Last year, 575,403 blood donations were collected – a 30.8% increase from the 439,907 in 2013.

During this period, there’s been a growing pool of regular donors, or those who donated blood again within two years.

However, the number of new donors shrank – from 156,492 in 2013, it fell by 24% to 118,285 last year.

These numbers are based on the Health Ministry’s data, sourced from the National Blood Centre.

The ministry said the dip in new donors was caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw fewer new donors turning up to donate blood.

“The pandemic put in place restrictions that prevented the usual donor recruitment pace.

“But now, as we are recovering from the impact of the pandemic, we are able to slowly improve,” the ministry said.

Other factors for the drop in new donors were the lack of awareness on the importance of blood donation, and fear and misconceptions about the process.

With World Blood Donor Day today (June 14), the ministry hopes the community will keep its consistent trend of donating, and if possible, donate every three months to maintain bloodstock at optimal levels.

“This is especially for emergencies such as bleeding due to serious accidents, surgical or clinical procedures, and obstetric complications,” it said.

Thank you, regulars

Over the years, the number of regular blood donors has been increasing, outnumbering new donors since 2009.

Calling them the “backbone” of blood donation efforts, the ministry said such regular donors played a crucial role in ensuring a safe and healthy blood supply.

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“During the pandemic, regular donors have been particularly vital in responding to blood shortage situations.

“Their commitment to donating regularly, even during challenging times, is invaluable and greatly appreciated,” it said.

Watch how the number of regular donors has increased over the years:

The ministry said it was essential to continue expanding the donor pool to provide a sustainable supply of blood for patients in need.

“Increasing awareness and education about blood donation among the public, particularly targeting new donors, will be crucial in achieving this goal,” it said.

Every day, an average of about 2,200 blood bags are needed throughout Malaysia to be used by 1,000 patients, said the ministry.

“The need for blood is essential at all times, and that is why continuous donation is necessary to ensure that our blood stock is sufficient, safe, and complies with international standards,” the ministry said.

Top blood donors

Since 2006, the top blood type being donated has consistently been Type O, followed by B, A and AB.

According to the American Red Cross, Type O is said to be the most common blood type and as such, is also regularly in high demand.

Between 2006 and June 4 this year, most or 85.6% of the total number of blood donors were civilians, while 11.6% were students.

The remaining 2.8% were members of uniformed bodies like the police, army and so on.

Among the new donors, most or 47% were youths aged between 17 and 24.

Click the play button to watch the video below on such trends:

Kuala Lumpur is No 1

Meanwhile, the bulk of Malaysia’s blood donations were collected in our nation’s capital, Kuala Lumpur.

It collected a cumulative total of 3.19 million donations from 2006 to June 4 this year.

Kedah was in second place, followed by Perak.

The National Blood Centre in Kuala Lumpur topped the list as the number one facility that had recorded the highest number of blood donations over the years.

Most or 81.5% of the donations were from its mobile locations, while 18.5% was from the centre.

Check out the maps below to see more details of each blood donation facility:

Ensuring a steady supply

To address the shortage of donors, the ministry is planning to use technology such as mobile apps for blood donations to facilitate appointment scheduling and the donation process.

It also aims to increase public awareness about the importance of donating blood.

“This may include holding educational campaigns to debunk myths and highlight the impact of donations in saving lives.

“We will also strengthen collaborations with community organisations like St. John Ambulance of Malaysia, universities, companies and media to engage with potential donors,” it said.

In line with World Blood Donor Day, the ministry urged all Malaysians to consider the invaluable gift they can give: the gift of life through a blood donation.

“Each donation has the power to save lives, heal communities, and foster a culture of care and compassion.

“In a world faced with challenges, your simple act of donating blood can make a profound difference.

“Whether you’re a regular donor or considering donating for the first time, know that your contribution matters more than you may realise,” the ministry said.

In view of increase in static site operations, donors are encouraged to go to all the static sites such as the National Blood Centre (PDN) in Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur and PDN Donation Suite in Midvalley Megamall.

They can also go to the St John Ambulance IOI City Mall Blood Donation Suite, St John Ambulance One Utama Blood Donation Suite, Johor Baru Blood Donation Suite Midvalley Southkey and Aeon Station 18 Ipoh.