Jakarta (ANTATA News) - The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) has set itself the target of building up a blood stock of 290 thousand pouches per annum to meet public demand for blood, a PMI official said.

"So far, we have a sufficient blood stock which reaches 60 percent, at least it is enough to meet the public need for six months," PMI head for blood procurement Dr Udja Bachrussani said here on Friday.

He however expressed fear that the number of blood donors in the run up to the fasting month would drop because they considered donating blood during fasting could break their fast.

"Moreover, people considered that donating blood would make people become weaker during fasting," Udja said.

Actually, donating blood during fasting will not automatically cause people to become weak because before the blood was taken the donor`s health was first examined.

"Donating blood will even cause the body to become healthier because the body will have circulation with new blood," he said.
(Uu.A014/HAJM/F001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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