Thai Red Cross ‘Missing Type’ project urges donors to give blood more often

By The Nation

 

 

Only 55 per cent of blood donors give blood annually, with just 8 per cent of them doing so every three months, the director of the Thai Red Cross Society’s National Blood Centre said on Tuesday.

 

Ubonwan Jaroonruengrit said this was a major reason behind the country’s growing shortage during a period of rising demand for blood. 

 

Hoping that people would donate their blood more often – at least twice a year – she said the Thai Red Cross Society had launched a project called “Missing Type” to increase public awareness about the importance of blood donations. 

 

The project – a collaboration between the Thai Red Cross Society and the Alliance of Blood Operators, a non-profit organisation – will see people removing the blood-type letters A, B and O from their names, signage or logos at 11.11am on June 11 and placing them along with the hashtag #missingtypeTH. 

 

The aim is to encourage the overall level of blood donation, remind donors to make a second trip to the blood bank or motivate new people to donate blood, Ubonwan explained.

 

The Alliance of Blood Operators has joined with partners in 34 countries, including the UK, the US, Canada, Italy, Australia, Japan, China and Taiwan, to host the project in each country this year. 

 

The “Missing Type” project in Thailand – as part of the “Big Blood Campaign” – was officially announced to the media on Monday by society secretary-general Dr Phan Wannamethee, ahead of “World Blood Donor Day” on June 14. 

 

To celebrate this annual event, the National Blood Centre in Bangkok – as well as regional offices in Lop Buri, Chon Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai and Songkhla – will organise an activity with the slogan “Be there for someone else. Give blood. Share life” on June 10, in a bid to make people realise the importance of blood donation and the value of giving without wanting anything in return.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30347027

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-6-5

After donating more than 50 times back home, I went straight to the Red Cross upon arriving in Thailand.  They rejected me outright as a farang because "you might go with bar lady."  Well, that's enough of that.  While on holidays, donated twice in Cambodia, once in Spain and once in Italy.

1 hour ago, mwbrown said:

After donating more than 50 times back home, I went straight to the Red Cross upon arriving in Thailand.  They rejected me outright as a farang because "you might go with bar lady."  Well, that's enough of that.  While on holidays, donated twice in Cambodia, once in Spain and once in Italy.

 

Don't want. don't get. Then they complain. I suppose that serves you right for being community-minded in Thailand.

 

Odd really.

In Saudi they used to have you donate blood before giving you a driving licence, then each renewal.

Probably not a worthwhile thing to do here for Thais, doubt there would be few takers... ( ahem )

 

As for being rejected for blood donation, same here when I went to a local donation center.

I haven't had a problem donating blood in Khon Kaen. For the people who were rejected. Was any reason given? Were you rejected right off the bat or did you fill out the survey? Example.... Mad cow disease risk

 

• You have spent 3 cumulative months in the UK from 1980 – 1996.
• You have spent 5 cumulative years in Europe from 1980 – present.

 If you answer yes to those questions on the survey the red cross will reject you not because you are a Farang ... but because you answered the question yes and hence are considered a risk to the blood supply.

 

That said ... it wouldn't surprise me if the odd nurse/volunteer rejected people for their own reason.

17 hours ago, reeltrouble said:

I haven't had a problem donating blood in Khon Kaen. For the people who were rejected. Was any reason given? Were you rejected right off the bat or did you fill out the survey? Example.... Mad cow disease risk

 

• You have spent 3 cumulative months in the UK from 1980 – 1996.
• You have spent 5 cumulative years in Europe from 1980 – present.

 If you answer yes to those questions on the survey the red cross will reject you not because you are a Farang ... but because you answered the question yes and hence are considered a risk to the blood supply.

 

That said ... it wouldn't surprise me if the odd nurse/volunteer rejected people for their own reason.

 

 

Well, if they were short enough, then perhaps they'd ask better questions, or do blood tests like any sensible country.

 

Mad Cow disease? I know quite a lot of mad cows in Thailand. More than a few mad buggers as well, but opresumably they don't count because they're Thai?

17 hours ago, reeltrouble said:

I haven't had a problem donating blood in Khon Kaen. For the people who were rejected. Was any reason given? Were you rejected right off the bat or did you fill out the survey? Example.... Mad cow disease risk

 

• You have spent 3 cumulative months in the UK from 1980 – 1996.
• You have spent 5 cumulative years in Europe from 1980 – present.

 If you answer yes to those questions on the survey the red cross will reject you not because you are a Farang ... but because you answered the question yes and hence are considered a risk to the blood supply.

 

That said ... it wouldn't surprise me if the odd nurse/volunteer rejected people for their own reason.

 

Nor me, impunity in Thailand stretches from the mundane to the esoteric. Everyone thinks they're entitled and job definitions are only guidelines. The average manager is scared witless his staff will wander off to care for the sick buffalo or something equally unlikely.

"I don't mind giving a reasonable amount, but a pint! That's very nearly an armful!"

Tony Hancock