Maldivian Blood Services (MBS) is seeking blood donations from the public, due to a scarcity in supplies and blood stock.

In a Twitter post on Saturday, MBS urged the public to donate blood, citing shortage in the organization’s blood stock.

MBS had earlier sought blood donations from the public a few times since March, following the shortage of supply due to the Covid-19 lockdown declared across the Greater Malé Region in April.

As such, the organization had urged blood donors to come forth during March and April as well. Following the call for public donations, a number of individuals volunteered to donate.

Highlighting that they have been facing a lot of challenges due to the stock shortage, the organization stressed that the spread of the global pandemic has reduced the number of donors to thalassemia patients as well.

The general public has been urged to regularly donate blood and contribute to the blood stock in order to save thalassemia patients, who require 160 units of blood every week.

Adults weighing more than 45 kilograms with a hemoglobin count above 12.5 may donate blood and individuals who are physically fit to do so, may donate up to four times a year.