Grande ABC blood banks face critical shortage due to rainfall

Blood banks in the Grande ABC region of Brazil are facing a significant deficit, with a shortage of 1,200 blood bags reported for September. While officials expected at least 5,000 donations, only 3,800 have been collected so far.

According to Colsan, the association responsible for supplying hospitals in the region and Baixada Santista, current stocks are only sufficient for five to seven days. This falls short of the ideal 15-day reserve. Regional administrative manager Solange Rios attributed the decline in donations to recent heavy rainfall, noting that one specific Saturday saw only 40 donors compared to the usual average of 130.

The most critical shortages involve blood types O negative, A negative, O positive, and B negative. Donations can be made at Hospital Estadual Mário Covas in Santo André, as well as Colsan units in São Bernardo, São Caetano, and Mauá. In Diadema, donations are accepted at Hospital Serraria.