Blood donation services are facing increasing demand across all blood groups, prompting the Blood Centre to urge members of the public to visit donation stations and help replenish supplies.
Speaking on Sigma’s Protoselido programme, Blood Centre head Andri Panayiotou clarified that the number of blood donors has not fallen. Instead, the proportion of people donating blood is increasing every year, but demand is growing even faster.
Accidents and surgeries put pressure on blood supplies
Panayiotou explained that the growing number of road accidents, surgical procedures and the needs of pregnant women are placing significant pressure on blood stocks.
She stressed that shortages affect every blood group, not just A-positive.
“There is a problem with all blood groups, not only A-positive,” she said, calling on healthy people who have never donated blood to set aside some time to help.
Blood Centre seeks new volunteer donors
Panayiotou said regular donors have been placed under considerable pressure, making it essential to attract new volunteers and broaden the pool of people who donate blood.
The Blood Centre has already launched awareness initiatives and organised donation sessions at schools, universities and military camps.
School initiatives target students aged over 17, while activities at universities and military camps aim to encourage more young people to become regular donors.
Young people urged to continue donating after studies
One challenge identified by the Blood Centre is that many young people who leave Cyprus to study abroad do not return to donation stations after completing their studies.
Panayiotou suggested that changes in their daily routines may contribute to this trend.
Encouraging young people to maintain the habit of donating blood, alongside recruiting first-time donors, remains an important part of efforts to meet Cyprus’ growing needs.
The Blood Centre is urging eligible, healthy members of the public to come forward, stressing that donations are needed across all blood groups.
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