BANGKOK, 31 August 2014 – The Thai Red Cross Society is urging the public to donate blood in an annual campaign that will be launched throughout the month of September.
Dr. Sroi-saang Pikulsod, director of the blood donation centre at the Thai Red Cross Society, said that the campaign “Pun Lohit Hai Nong” (sharing blood for the young ones), which is in its seventh year this year, will be launched throughout September to encourage members of the public to donate more blood.
Dr. Sroi-saang said that more blood donation is needed to help patients with blood conditions, particularly Thalassemia which can currently be found in around one percent of Thailand’s population or about 600,000 people while the number looks set to be rising every year.
She added that there are at least 12,000 newborns who have been diagnosed with Thalassemia as well. These young patients will need to be treated with blood transfusions for the rest of their lives.
The director of the blood donation centre said that blood supply for some groups could be in shortage from time to time and the situation has forced the centre to launch a campaign to call for more blood donation every three months to ensure sufficient supply.
