Blood centre extends hours for Muslim donors

PETALING JAYA: The National Blood Centre has extended its operating hours during weekdays to cater to Muslim donors during the fasting month, its health education officer B. Sri Tharan said here.

He said the centre will be operating between 7am to 9pm on weekdays except Monday while on weekends, it will be from 8am to 4pm. It opens at 7.30am on Mondays.

He said although there will be fewer Muslim blood donors during the fasting month, the centre has sufficient blood supply to meet the needs of the people.

“The situation at present is good as we have sufficient stock of donated blood.

“But we are also taking proactive measures to ensure that donations of blood are still coming in during the fasting month,” he said. Sri Tharan said the public can help the centre in collecting blood by organising their own donation drives.

“The centre will provide them with our mobile donation unit for this cause,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Penang, Batu Uban assemblyman Dr T. Jayabalan has called on non-Muslims to come forward to donate blood during the fasting month as there will be a dip in supply.

He also organised a blood donation drive to replenish supply at the Penang Hospital blood bank.

Among the donors was his special officer Suresh Naidu, 40, who said he was donating blood in view of Ramadan.

“I know that there will be a lack in supply in the blood bank during the fasting month, and I want to help out,” said Suresh, who is a fifth time donor.

Also donating for the fifth time was Manoranjitham Muniandy, 50, who began doing so when her mother required blood due to an illness 12 years ago.

“After she passed away the same year, I continued to donate blood to those who need it,” she said.

USM student Bilal Saleem, 33, a Muslim from Pakistan, was also there to donate blood although the fasting month will start soon.

“It’s not a problem, I have been donating consistently for four years. This is my first time in Malaysia and I am happy to contribute for Ramadan,” Bilal said.