Northern floods prompt Phuket call for blood
PHUKET: The head of the Phuket Regional Blood Center, run by the Red Cross, has called for blood donations to bolster dwindling stocks in the northern, central and northeastern provinces which have been severely affected by floods.
“We have enough blood in stock for the six provinces along the Andaman Coast, but I am calling for blood donations because the Red Cross Society head office has requested more blood for use in northern and central Thailand because of the severe flooding,” Center Director Pornthip Ratthajak told the Phuket Gazette.
Director Pornthip dispelled concerns that the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, which concludes tomorrow, had caused the blood stocks at the center to run low.
“Since the beginning of the Vegetarian Festival, we have not received any unusually high requests [for blood] from any hospital. We still have a lot of blood at our center – more than enough for our region alone.
“But those living in flooded areas are in need of blood. Entire areas are inundated, and no one can go out to donate blood there. As a result, blood stocks in those areas are running low. So it is our job to provide them the help they need,” she said.
The center is calling for donations of any blood type.
“All blood types are equally important,” Ms Pornthip said.
The center will set up mobile donation clinics at several locations along the Andaman Coast.
The clinics’ schedule for collecting blood donations for October is as follows:
Phuket
• October 10, 1pm-4pm: Centara Karon Resort
• October 11, 1pm-4pm: Le Meridien Phuket Beach Hotel
• October 12, 1pm-4pm: Two Villas Holiday Phuket, Nai Harn
• October 14, 10am-3pm: Movenpick Resort and Spa, Karon
• October 18, 10am-2pm: Siam Guardian Services office, Thalang
• October 20, 9am-Noon: Satree Phuket School
• October 21, 10am-2pm: Mission Phuket Hospital
• October 25, 10am-3pm: Jungceylon, Patong
• October 27, 1pm-4pm: Phuket International Hospital
• October 30, 2pm-7pm: Big C Supercenter
• October 31, 10am-3pm: Prince of Songkla University, Phuket campus
Phang Nga
• October 4, 1pm-4pm: Thap Pud District Office
Krabi
• October 19, 9am-2pm: Big C Supercenter
• October 19, 9am-Noon: Muang District Office
• October 26, 9am-Noon: Khao Phanom District Office
• October 26, 9am-Noon: Klong Thom District Office
For more information, contact the center, which is located in the government complex area near Saphan Hin (38/193 Rattanakosin 200 Pi Road, Phuket Town. Email: phuketrbc@yahoo.com; Tel: 076-251178; Fax: 076-250185).
— Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai
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