Minister of Health Chheang Ra used yesterday’s 10th Blood Donation Ceremony at Calmette Hospital to urge private citizens, institutions, and corporations to take part in the Kingdom’s latest blood drive, in order to replenish Cambodia’s limited stocks. 

The April 25 event, themed “Let’s Donate Blood to Save Lives”, saw nearly 400 participants showing their support.

The minister expressed his concern over the low stock levels of blood units, noting that “In many developed countries, there is no issue of blood storage because they have full stocks. However, in Cambodia, we are operating with blood stocks at only about 20 percent capacity."

Ra emphasised the critical need for regular voluntary blood donations to ensure a stable blood supply, especially for emergencies involving family members, who are often tasked with patient care and securing blood donations. 

He outlined an ambitious goal.

“We aim to increase the stock rate of voluntary blood donations from 20 percent to as much as 50 percent, aligning our reserves more closely with those of developed nations,” he said.

“Men can donate blood four times a year, thanks to our bone marrow system’s capacity to regenerate blood. Women, on the other hand, can donate up to three times a year, every four months," he explained to reporters.

Sok Po, director of the National Blood Transfusion Centre (NBTC), highlighted the urgent daily need for blood in Phnom Penh alone, with the hospital requiring between 300 and 350 bags a day.

Bo explained that national demand exceeds 100,000 bags annually, a 30 percent increase from the previous year. He pointed out that the highest demand often comes from maternity patients and the heart surgery ward at Calmette Hospital.

Despite significant contributions from individual volunteers and large enterprises, Po noted that there is still a lack of widespread public participation in blood donation, possibly due to health concerns. 

“Many are willing to help but remain hesitant because they fear that donating blood could lead to health issues,” he said.

“In reality, donating blood is beneficial not just for the recipients but for donors as well. It helps reduce blood viscosity, decreasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and even helping with weight management,” he added.