Nicosia: Blood reserves across Cyprus are currently at critical levels, Head of the Blood Centre Dr. Androulla Panayiotou told CNA on Monday, issuing a fresh appeal to the public to visit blood donation centres, particularly ahead of the difficult period surrounding the August 15 holiday.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Dr. Panayiotou emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "we are at critical levels at the moment." She highlighted that the current and following week, as well as the days after August 15, are expected to pose significant challenges for the blood supply.
The Blood Centre requires about 350 units of blood daily to meet the demands across Cyprus. Dr. Panayiotou expressed concern over the recent blood collection trends, indicating that the scheduled blood drives may not meet the necessary daily requirements. "If we start collecting around 190-200, as the currently scheduled blood drives indicate, then we will face a serious problem," she warned.
Dr. Panayiotou noted that recent blood supplies were maintained partly due to organized blood donation drives at military camps, which have now concluded. The summer holiday period has also led to a reduction in blood drives at workplaces, universities, and other institutions, further exacerbating the situation.
She urged the public, including those already on holiday or preparing to leave, to take a few minutes to donate blood. "There are blood donation centres open across Cyprus. It would be good for people to visit a centre and devote 15 minutes of their time to help save lives," she advocated.
For the week of August 10-16, the operational hours for blood donation centres across various regions, including Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, and Famagusta, have been outlined to facilitate public participation. Further details and updates on blood donation centres and external blood drives can be found on the Blood Establishment's Facebook page.