Tangerang blood supply dwindling

TANGERANG: Tangerang's supply of blood is running low due to high demand, Antara reported Monday.

An official at the Tangerang branch of the Red Cross, Bambang Triyono, said blood was still being donated on a regular basis.

"As usual we have 10 to 15 donors a day, but starting this year, we have received orders for blood for 20 to 30 people per day," he said.

He said the increasing demand was most likely due to the outbreak of certain diseases, including dengue fever.

To find new blood donors, the Red Cross plans to hold a series of blood donation events in factories, police stations and military posts across the regency.

Bambang said the Red Cross had 500 blood bags in December, with only 177 bags in stock at the end of this month. -- JP