Fijians have been assured it is safe to donate blood during a Covid-19 outbreak in the community.
Fiji's Red Cross Society warned the country's blood supply continued to be impacted by the pandemic.
This had prompted the organisation to carry out a nation-wide blood drive campaign that began when the latest outbreak hit in April this year.
Red Cross director-general Ilisapeci Rokotunidau said it was pleasing to see people turn up at their blood-drive locations across the country.
"This is indicative of the fact that despite the current situation, people are still willing to donate blood to help save lives," Rokotunidau said.
"The need for blood does not stop during a global pandemic. Blood donors save lives every day through their blood donations.
"Every second there may be a patient waiting for a blood transfusion to survive."
About 1,000 people had donated blood across the country, Rokotunidau said.
They have also collected 576 litres of blood since the campaign began in April.
"I would like to encourage people who are fit and healthy, weigh above 50 kilograms, and aged from 18-65, to give blood.
"The blood bus is going around the country so I encourage people to check our Facebook page to find out if it will be located in your area or they can simply call us to register their interest and we will pick them up from their residence and drop them off once they have completed giving blood."
Fiji's Ministry of Health said Covid-19 could not be transmitted by blood transfusion.
A Red Cross volunteer shares a message about Covid-19 transmissions through a window to a family in Uciwai Settlement, Nadi. Photo: Fiji Red Cross
Hesitancy linked to lack of awareness
Health Secretary James Fong said people were hesitant because they were not convinced it's safe to donate blood during a pandemic.
Dr Fong said the virus was transmitted from the respiratory tract as droplets, and to a smaller extent as airborne in confined spaces, and was not transmissible in the blood.
He urged asymptomatic people to donate blood, adding that even in Covid times, blood still was essential.
Fiji's Red Cross Society said the hesitancy put huge pressure on the country's hospitals.
According to the Health Ministry, there were over 12,000 active cases and the death toll had passed 600 to date.
Rokotunidau said the ministry alerted the Red Cross to the blood shortage when stocks across the country were critically low.
She said volunteers are reaching out to their personal contacts for donations.
"We had to find safe way or a safer way to try and get people to come in and be confident that they can safely donate blood in an environment where they are not exposed to other things.
"Alot of people with Covid were going to the hospital and other people were reluctant to give blood because alot of these blood units are in the hospitals.
"What we've done is work with the Ministry and the Prema Foundation where we help pick donors from their homes and they go through a thorough safety process from their homes to the hospital."
Donors are assured of the safety measures involved in getting them to donate blood, Rokotunidau said.
Members of the Red Cross hand out blankets. Photo: Nakita Bingham
