... during the fasting month the number decreases because many of them were fasting."
Bogor, West Java (ANTARA News) - Entering the ninth day of Ramadan fasting month, the blood stock in the West Java town of Bogor remained sufficient, local Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) blood transfusion unit spokesman Wisnu Hendratmoyo said here on Friday.

"Although the number of blood donors during the fasting month decreases, the blood stock remains sufficient because we have conducted blood donor activities in advance, and as the result we got 1,000 blood pouches," Wisnu said.

He pointed out that blood demand in Bogor per day was about 40 to 50 pouches, but the number of blood donors declined during the fasting month.

"In regular days 20 to 25 people can donate their blood but during the fasting month the number decreases because many of them were fasting," he said.

But he added that the Bogor`s PMI blood transfusion unit has anticipated it by conducting blood donor drive a week before the Ramadan fasting month.

Wisnu noted that public awareness in Bogor to donate their blood was quite high, and now the PMI has 15,000 permanent blood donors from a number of companies, office workers, schools, factories, and non-Muslim houses of worship.

He said that besides supplying blood for hospitals in Bogor town, PMI also did the same to the districts of Bogor, Depok, Sukabumi, Cianjur, Bekasi, and even Jakarta.

Although the blood stock remains sufficient, Wisnu called on the people to donate their blood after breaking their fast in the evening.
(Uu.O001/F001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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