VIENTIANE, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Only about 0.6 percent of Lao population has joined blood donation, below the World Health Organization (WHO) target of one percent of the population donating blood, the WHO said on Wednesday.
The number of blood units available has increased from 36,653 in 2015 to 40,454 units in 2016 in the Southeast Asian country but it is still not yet enough for patient needs.
It is estimated the nation requires between 60,000 to 70,000 units, WHO Representative to Laos Juliet Fleischl said at a meeting held Wednesday in Lao capital Vientiane to mark World Blood Donor Day.
According to statistics released at the meeting, of these blood donations, more than 90 percent are collected from voluntary donors, and around 10 percent from family members.
Deputy Director of Lao Red Cross National Blood Transfusion Center Phengthong Banchanthavong was quoted by Vientiane Times as saying that they managed to raise 40,454 bags of blood last year and this year hopes to give at least 44,000 bags.
Every year on June 14, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day.
