The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) today (September 18) appealed to members of the public to share their blessing of reunion by giving blood and registering for bone marrow donation before the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays. The BTS spokesperson said that the blood inventory is now at a low level. The demand for blood has a tendency to outpace the supply, pushing blood banks to near critical levels. The blood inventories have to be duly replenished to maintain a stable blood supply for clinical transfusion to patients in hospitals.
Just before the Mid-Autumn Festival, Emily Fung came to hospital for a blood transfusion. Emily was diagnosed with thalassaemia major at the age of one. These patients suffer from a serious impairment in haemoglobin production, and will require lifelong regular blood transfusions. Emily appreciates the essential role of regular blood donors for backing her up in this lifelong battle, "I need two to three units of red blood cells for transfusion therapy every five weeks. It is the blood from generous donors running in my body which keeps me alive. I would like to thank all blood donors. You are literally providing an incredible lifesaving resource to us, who rely on your donations for our survival. With your support, I can enjoy celebrating every Mid-Autumn Festival with family and friends."
Most BTS donor centres open on public holidays (see Annex 1 attached). To celebrate the coming Mid-Autumn Festival, as well as a token of thanks, BTS has prepared seasonal fruits for blood donors who come forward to give blood during September 18-22. All successful donations at a donor centre or donation vehicle during this period will receive one Nanshui pear or one Shatian pomelo. Please refer to the attached promotional poster for details (Annex 2).
Anyone aged between 16 and 66 (donation is possible up to the age of 76 if predetermined conditions are met), weighs 41 kilograms or above and is in good health is eligible to give blood. To prevent crowds from gathering and long waiting times at the donor centres, donors are advised to make appointments by calling the BTS' donor centres or via the "HK Blood" mobile app. For details, please visit www5.ha.org.hk/rcbts/mobile-app.
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