The supply of blood is running low and the transfusion unit is worried it may not be able to meet the demand if this increases.

Spokesman Tony Micallef told this newspaper that, although the supply was extremely high last month, it dropped drastically over the past four weeks, nearly reaching alarming rates.

“During these festive times, the incidence of traffic accidents increases. We feel that we are not prepared and need to take immediate action,” he said.

Donation area manager Gino Degiorgio expressed concern that not all donors were responding to the call.

“The drop in donations is partly due to more people getting sick but there are also passive donors. We’d like to urge these donors not to wait any longer. Don’t wait until the alarm is raised.”

On average, 50 bags of blood are needed every day.

However, the unit is only receiving 30 donations.

The blood donated at the unit in Guardamangia, in Gozo and through mobile units is taken to the laboratory situated just outside St Luke’s Hospital where it is tested for infectious diseases, passed through quality control and prepared for consumption. At the blood banks at Mater Dei Hospital, Gozo General Hospital and Saint James Hospital, the blood is cross-matched for compatibility with patients, including those battling cancer and diseases of the liver and kidneys as well as those admitted to emergency or undergoing operations.

“You don’t think twice about donating blood when you know who’s going to benefit,” donor Martin Bugelli said.

Mr Bugelli, who heads the EU Representation in Malta, started donating blood when there was an appeal following the EgyptAir hijack in 1985. After his eighth donation he was told he could start donating platelets and has been doing so since then.

Benefactors of platelets donation are usually children with leukae­mia undergoing chemotherapy, those waiting for a bone-marrow transplant, major accident victims with profuse bleeding and those undergoing major surgery.

Another donor, who has not given blood for more than 25 years, yesterday returned to the unit after hearing the urgent appeal on TV.

“I really feel well and I’ll be donating blood regularly. Before I donated blood I underwent tests so I know I am healthy and can now go home and have a Christmas drink with peace of mind,” Carmel Zahra said, sitting down in the pantry where staff wait on donors with water and food.

Donors get bagfuls of satisfaction in exchange for a bag of blood. And the unit brims with warmth and laughter as the staff try their best to make the donation process as smooth as possible.

Parking spaces for donors are available just outside and people can call at the unit in Guardamangia every day between 8am and 6pm, including on public holidays. The unit will even be open on Christmas and New Year’s days until 1pm.

“Although there are about 44,000 people who have donated blood at least once in their life, we depend on some 20,000 donors – only half of whom are regular. This is too little when compared to the nearly half million population.

“We get some 18,000 bags yearly from 12,000 donors. This is equivalent to one-and-a-half bags from each donor,” Mr Degiorgio said.

Men can donate blood up to four times yearly and women up to three times till menopause. Donors, aged between 18 and 68, must produce their identity card and 17-year-olds can download a permission form from www.blood.gov.mt, which would have to be signed by the parents or guardians.

www.facebook.com/bloodmalta?fref=ts