BY James Kon

It is important to answer screening questions for blood donations “accurately” to ensure the safety of recipients, said Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar on Thursday.

During the large scale blood donation drive organised by the Ministry of Health in conjunction with World Blood Donor Day, the minister said blood with infectious diseases can endanger lives of recipients, adding that the ministry also screens donated blood for diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis.

The minister said the Infectious Diseases Act also has provisions to safeguard blood donations. Under Chapter 204, Section 11 of the Infectious Diseases Act, anyone donating blood or blood product in any blood banks or hospital in the country and provide information which he knows to be false or misleading, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding BND20,000, imprisonment not exceeding two years or both.

Meanwhile under Chapter 204, Section 25 of Infectious Diseases Act, anyone who knows that they are infected with HIV and continues to donate blood or perform any act which is likely to transmit HIV, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding BND50,000, imprisonment not exceeding two years or both.

The minister advised members of the public who have high risk sexual behaviour i.e. have multiple partners or unprotected sex to refrain from donating blood, as they have a high risk of carrying infectious diseases.

The minister expressed his appreciation to regular blood donors.

He said one pint of blood can save up to three lives, and the blood bank is always low on supply.

Meanwhile, the minister said COVID-19 patients who have recovered can donate blood.

“There is no issue. Recovered patients donating blood can also give the COVID-19 antibody.

Once they are recovered and healthy, they can start donating. However, they must have a negative PCR test (for COVID-19),” said the minister.

The ministry’s blood donation drive on Thursday collected 146 pints of blood.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin