Nanjing now has a critical blood shortage, with donations having declined sharply of late. At present, those coming forward to give blood number only dozens every day. Considering our city’s overall needs, this is bad news indeed.
Influenced by multiple factors, Nanjing’s blood stock now stands below its minimum warning level, meaning the city’s blood inventory is tight. To make matters worse, this week, much of Nanjing’s blood stock will pass its validity. A bad situation is about to become much worse.
Yuan Yong is head of the Blood Source Management Section at the Nanjing Red Cross Blood Centre. As Nanjing Daily has reported, Yuan said, “In order to meet the needs for clinical-blood use in Nanjing, we need 500 voluntary blood donors every day, which is a huge gap [compared with present donation levels]”.
By way of setting a good example, Nanjing government officials have been among the first to respond to appeals for more donations.
After the Party Committee of the Nanjing Municipal Development and Reform Commission issued a call for blood donors on 4 January, more than 20 party members and cadres thereof actively signed up within 10 minutes.
Ling Hao is a member of the Nanjing Development and Reform Commission who has been a voluntary blood donor for many years. This time around, he has donated 300 millilitres of blood. Ling said, “As a Party member, when the people are most in need, we should go ahead and dare to take on the responsibility.”
But putting many people off donating, of course, is the fear that their blood may be COVID contaminated.
The relevant guidelines (《血站新冠病毒感染防控工作指引（第二版）》), based on international best practice and China’s specific situation, state that except in severe and critical cases, blood may be donated 7 days after a final positive nucleic-acid test.
Those with a severe or critical infection should wait 6 months before giving blood. Others with a mild infection, who still feel weak and tired despite negative nucleic-acid test results, are recommended to postpone donation.
Readers of The Nanjinger wishing to assist Nanjing with its current blood shortage may refer to the list of donation points below, together with their respective opening times. The current donation drive shall run over 2 periods; from now until 18 January and from 6 thru 20 February.
- 献血大厅（血液中心本部）; 周一～周五 8:30-16:30
- 中央商场; 周一～周日 11:00-18:00
- 新百; 周一～周日 9:30-17:30
- 新街口悦荟; 周一～周日 10:00-17:00
- 夫子庙; 周一～周日 10:00-17:30
- 平江府路; 周一～周日 10:00-18:00
- 夫子庙北牌坊; 周五～周日；节假日 11:00-19:30
- 珠江镇; 周一～周日 10:30-17:30
- 仙林（学则路）; 周一～周日 10:00-18:00
- 玉桥广场; 不定期 10:00-17:00
- 湖南路（凤凰书城）; 周一～周日 10:00-17:00
- 儿童医院（河西）; 周四上午 9:00-12:00
- 仙林金鹰; 周末、节假日 11:00-18:00
- 浦口市民中心; 周末、节假日 11:00-17:00
- 江北弘阳; 周五～周日；节假日 11:00-19:00
- 鼓楼医院（钢琴厅）; 周一～周五 8:00-12:00；14:00-17:00; 周六、周日 8:00-15:00
- 文鼎广场; 周一～周日 10:30-17:30
- 建邺万达（C门）; 周一～周日 10:30-17:30
- 河西中央公园; 周一～周日 10:00-17:30
- 雨花客厅; 周一～周日 10:00-17:00
- 常发广场献血屋; 周一～周日 10:00-17:30
- 马群广场献血屋; 周一～周日 10:00-17:00
