Blood donations continue during non-fasting hours of Ramadan

AMMAN — Blood donations are continuing through the month of Ramadan during non-fasting hours, according to a representative from the Health Ministry’s blood bank centre.

“The ministry’s blood bank receives between 300 and 350 blood donations each day on normal days, and during Ramadan, donations are prone to drop — which is a normal occurrence,” Director of the ministry’s blood bank, Ascia Al Adwan, told The Jordan Times on Monday.

She noted that the ministry’s blood bank has organised several blood donation campaigns in collaboration with a number of associations and cooperatives. 

“Each Ramadan we have around four to six campaigns,” she said.

Regarding donation locations, all hospitals affiliated with the ministry except for Al Bashir Hospital, the Royal Medical Services and university hospitals have blood banks, according to Adwan. 

Healthy individuals from ages 18 to 60 who meet certain health criteria for donating can do so, Adwan added. During the whole month of Ramadan, the blood bank organises campaigns every day from 8:30pm through 12:00am, she said.

There is no blood shortage in Jordan; national blood stocks are stable, and the balance is maintained between donations and transfusions, Adwan noted.