Buenos Aires health authorities appeal for blood donations amid shortage

Health authorities in the Buenos Aires province are issuing an urgent appeal for blood donations following a significant decline in voluntary donors. In the La Plata Regional Hemotherapy Center, the daily average of 64 donors falls well below the required 100 to 120 people needed to meet transfusion demands.

Dr. Marcelo Salvarani, Hemotherapy coordinator for Sanitary Region III, attributed the shortage to seasonal factors, including respiratory infections, flu, and allergies, which temporarily prevent individuals from donating. There is a particular scarcity of the O positive blood group, the most common type and one that is used most rapidly. This shortage has forced the rescheduling of non-urgent surgeries to preserve reserves for medical emergencies.

Laura González, director of the Hemotherapy Institute, noted that while the situation is not yet critical, it serves as an important warning. Authorities are encouraging the public to donate regularly rather than waiting for a family emergency. Requirements for donors include being between 16 and 65 years old and avoiding fasting; donors are advised to consume sweet liquids, tea, or fruit before arriving.