Continue to donate blood even during Ramadhan

KUALA LUMPUR: A doctor has appealed to the public to continue donating blood, especially during the fasting month, when reserves at the blood bank run low.
Dr. Alan Raman said Muslims who are fasting will not have any side effects if they donated blood.
He said Muslims can donate blood five hours after sahur, or the pre-dawn meal, during Ramadhan.
"There is a belief that if you were to donate while fasting, you would feel lethargic. However, one can still donate and it will not affect their fasting," he said when met during a blood drive campaign held between the Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (TTDI) residents and the Sabahan-based physician.
Adding that the blood type most needed was A during the long festivities, he was also informed by the University Malaya Medical Centre (PPUM) that 400 pints of blood is used per week.
"There are also instances where some private hospitals rely heavily on the blood bank and government hospitals. This is because the latter may not have sufficient supply," he added.
He said the bloods banks in the country should have between 50 and 100 pints available at any time.
Today, they managed to collect 34 pints of blood, exceeding their initial target of 30.
Alan expressed admiration for the community's support, which was held near TTDI's Al-Taqwa mosque community centre.
The support has paved the way for a possibility for him to possibly have other blood drives during the fasting period in order to create awareness, he said.