Call goes out for blood donations

By The Star Staff

Jorge Matta González, the director of the Puerto Rico Medical Services Administration, on Sunday called on citizens to go to the Blood Bank of the Medical Center in Río Piedras to donate blood and platelets due to low inventories.

“Blood cannot be manufactured, so the collaboration of citizens is the only means we have so that patients can receive the blood they require in surgeries and treatments,” said Matta González, after emphasizing that the Medical Center’s Blood Bank complies with and monitors all health safety and protection measures against COVID-19 when receiving voluntary donors.

“If you have never donated, you can start today; you just have to call and make an appointment, any day of the week, through the telephone number (787) 777-3844,” he said.

The Medical Center Blood Bank operates seven days a week, from Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., he added.

During the holidays and due to the increase in positive COVID cases, not many donors have visited the Medical Center, which translates into a decrease in supplies, Matta González said. He reiterated that any type of blood is necessary, but at this time “we need type O, both positive and negative.”

“The number of pints [available] must increase in order to cover the emergencies that arise here at the Medical Center, and to achieve this we need everyone’s help,” said Matta González, who is also the director of the University Hospital for Adults. “We make this call when we see that the amount of blood we have in our refrigerators is insufficient to cover unexpected events.”

The Blood Bank needs 60 blood donors and 12 platelet donors daily. Every day the staff of the Blood Bank coordinates blood donation around the island in government agencies and private companies. A blood donation can be coordinated simply by calling the Medical Center Blood Bank.