Muscat – The number of units of blood collected increased 14 per cent in 2021, compared to 2020, according to the Ministry of Health.

The Department of Blood Banks Services (DBBS) in Bausher confirmed the preliminary statistics indicating the increase in the number of blood units collected in the Central Blood Bank in 2021, despite disruptions resulting from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, 2021 marked the fifth year in a row of increase in blood donations.

The percentage of Omani blood donors was 74.2 per cent of the total. Despite the difficulties faced by blood banks during the pandemic, the number of units of blood collected in the Central Bank in 2021 was 32,754.

The ministry stressed that the increasing collection of blood donations reflects the rising awareness of the importance of this humanitarian work. It thanked the institutions that contributed by organising blood donation campaigns, in addition to the role of the media that motivates donors.

According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information, the number of blood donors increased by 6.7 per cent between 2016 and 2020.