KUALA LUMPUR: There is a pressing need for blood type A and B as stock on both types are quite low.
Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) medical officer Dr Praveena Sharmugham said the country had healthy supply of blood type O, but needed more donors with blood type A and B to come forward.
“We welcome everyone to donate blood. We have more men as donors than women,” she told reporters during a blood donation drive held at Balai Berita here.
She attributed the lower number of female donors to misleading perceptions such as women who breastfeed and having their menstrual period should not donate their blood.
"There is no issue of `female problem’ as long as you fulfil the conditions to donate. We encourage women to come and donate their blood.”
She also said there was no evidence so far that Covid-19 could be transmitted through blood.
"We take several precautions to ensure that donors are in a good health. We also check their body temperature and for any symptoms such as cough, fever, and flu," she said, stressing Malaysians should not be afraid to donate blood.