Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has called to increase the number of blood donors across the Maldives. The Minister made the appeal at a ceremony held at the Maldives National University (MNU) on the occasion of World Blood Donor Day.
In his address, Minister Nazim announced that this year’s most significant event of this year’s celebration is a collaborative blood donation campaign in partnership with several universities and colleges of the Maldives. He also revealed that ambassadors will be appointed to help promote the cause.
The Minister noted that as per the World Health Organization (WHO) standards, at least one percent of a country’s population must be blood donors. He acknowledged that the Maldives has not yet reached this target.
Highlighting the difficulties in getting blood in the Maldives, the Minister pointed out that Thalasseemia patients in the Maldives need more than 900 pints of blood each month. Additionally, about 1,400 pints of blood are needed for other medical cases.
“As a nation, we must strive to see a day when no one has to beg for blood,” he said.
The Health Minister stressed the importance of promoting blood donation among the youth enrolled in colleges and universities. The Minister requested college and university unions, with whom the government recently signed agreements, to work towards increasing the number of blood donors. Such efforts result in the youth understanding the importance of blood donation, and will contributes to a better society, he said.