Hong Kong blood bank makes urgent appeal as Covid-19 pandemic fears keep donors away, supplies dry up
- Hospitals find it harder to get supplies as collection drops at Blood Transfusion Service
- Donors are still stepping forward, but supplies remain insufficient to meet patients’ needs
Mother-to-be Katie Yung was 35 weeks into her pregnancy and counting down to giving birth when she learned she had a potentially life-threatening condition.
Her doctor told her she had severe placenta previa, which can cause severe bleeding during childbirth, and she might need a blood transfusion to avoid complications that could lead to a stroke or even death.
With blood stocks running low in Hong Kong because of the coronavirus pandemic, a worried Yung went on Facebook to make an appeal to her friends and the public.
“The doctor said there would be no other means if there was no blood. I’m so scared,” she said in her post. “Could you and your friends please go to donate some blood? There are a lot of people who need blood.”
Her post on July 31 was shared more than 500 times, and drew about 200 comments, including good wishes and encouragement, as well as pledges to donate.
The city’s blood supply has been depleted as fear of Covid-19 infection has deterred donors, and the confinement and social-distancing measures have disrupted blood donation services. Blood supply relies entirely on voluntary donations.
