200 Pints Needed Daily, Says Fiji's Health Minister as He Starts Blood Drive

Fifty pints of blood are needed daily to keep a healthy supply in the blood bank at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva.

Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete started the blood drive for Suva at the ministry headquarters in Toorak yesterday.

“200 pints is the daily national requirement of blood while for Suva alone it is 50. A pint is equivalent to 450 millilitres,” Dr Waqainabete said as he gave blood.

“That is the number of people we need to come in on a daily basis. At the moment we are doing well in other centres while we are running a bit low in Suva, in terms of blood supply to the blood bank.

“The demand for blood has surged as a result of haemorrhagic dengue cases.”

Minister for Health and Medical Servicers Dr. Iferemi Waqainabete donating blood to start off the Ministry of Health Blood drive campaign in Suva on October 1, 2019. Photo: Ronald Kumar

Dr Waqaiunabete urged people to come forward and donate blood. He said blood donation equated to giving life.

Edited by Percy Kean

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