Blood supplies are being depleted because of the increasing number of accidents in Al-Ahsa, said Dr. Miteb Al-Harbi, supervisor of a blood bank at the National Guards Hospital in Al-Ahsa.

The blood bank serves accident victims from Gulf countries, and visitors to the Kingdom from the UAE, Qatar and Oman, in addition to serving hospitals in Al-Ahsa.

Al-Harbi made these comments during a blood donation camp in Hofouf. In all, 45 people participated in the five-hour drive donating 23 liters of blood.

The campaign aimed to encourage the people of Al-Ahsa to donate blood because of an increased demand as a result of growing traffic accidents and patients suffering serious health problems.

Such camps are considered part of the awareness program to encourage people to donate blood. “Blood donation is beneficial to people,” said Ibrahim Al-Shuaibi, a campaign volunteer.

According to Abdullah Bourseies, the camp organizer, there is a real need for such voluntary campaigns because of the limited amount of blood in the blood banks.

“Such campaigns should be conducted by both the government and private sectors,” he said. “The need for blood is alarmingly increasing, especially because of the rising incidence of cancer, hemorrhage after childbirth and various blood diseases.”

Majed Al-Quaimi, a health volunteer, said society must become more aware of the need for regular blood donations. He suggested such methods as using the educational process, displaying street placards, distributing pamphlets and other publications in public places, in addition to using social media.