Phuket blood bank calls for A-, O- donors

PHUKET: The Phuket Regional Blood Center (PRBC) is calling for donations of Rhesus-negative (Rh-) blood types to bolster stocks that are now critically low.

“We have only one unit of ‘A negative’ and one of ‘O negative’ blood,” PRBC Director Pornthip Rattajak told the Phuket Gazette.

She explained that Rh-negative blood types are far more common among Caucasians than Asians.

Foreigners with Rh-negative blood types are asked to provide their address and contact information so they can be contacted in emergency situations.

The news comes as the PRBC announces the September schedule for their mobile blood drive ahead of the annual high-demand periods of the Vegetarian Festival and ensuing tourist high season.

Ms Pornthip explained that the PRBC was preparing a Vegetarian Festival campaign to encourage blood donors to help out with the increase in demand.

“We are still doing some fund raising so we can give away t-shirts to blood donors during our Vegetarian Festival campaign, as we still need more blood in our stock for the festival,” she said.

The full PRBC mobile blood donation clinic program for this month:

September 12, Srinagarindra – The Princess Mother School Phuket (Saphan Hin), 9am to 3pm

September 14, Movenpick Resort and Spa Phuket (Karon), 1pm to 4pm

September 17, Centara Grand West Sands Resort and Villas (Mai Khao), 1pm to 4pm

September 18, Bangkok Hospital Phuket (Phuket Town), 1pm to 5pm

September 19, Central Festival Phuket, Banking Zone, Midday to 6pm

September 24, Phuket Wittayalai School, building 2 (Phuket Town), 9am to 3pm

September 25, Phuket Vocational College (Saphan Hin), building 5, 9am to 3pm

September 28, Avista Hideaway Resort and Spa (Patong), 10am to 3pm

Donations can also be made at the Phuket Blood Center at Saphan Hin.

For more information contact the PRBC at 076-251178, extension 2.

— Chutharat Plerin