Largest hospital in Mozambique is cancelling surgeries due to blood shortage

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Largest hospital in Mozambique is cancelling surgeries due to blood shortage

12:40 CAT | 27 Jul 2020

File photo: RM

Mozambique’s largest hospital is cancelling surgeries because of a fall in the number of blood donors caused by fear of infection with the new coronavirus, its clinical director said on Friday (24).

Farida Urci told state-owned broadcaster Televisião de Moçambique (TVM) that Maputo Central Hospital (HCM) had postponed ten operations last week because it had insufficient supplies of blood for transfusion.

“If people do not respond to blood donation appeals, more surgeries will be cancelled. The longer this situation persists, the more patients are at risk of complications or bad outcomes,” Urci said.

The scarcity of blood is particularly affecting surgical interventions in cancer patients, trauma cases and pregnant women with complicated deliveries, Urci added.

Since Mozambique registered its first case of Covid-19, he continued, the amount of blood donated at HCM had fallen by three-quarters, to 100 units a day.

Urci said that fear of infection with the new coronavirus had scared off many donors, leaving HCM to depend on patients’ family members.

Prior to the crisis, blood was donated by religious believers, the military and people from other social groups, Urci explained, adding that the donation facility was now proof against coronavirus infection and urging people to resume donations.

By Sunday (July 26), Mozambique had a cumulative total of 1,669 Covid-19 cases, with 11 deaths and 595 patients accounted fully recovered.

Source: Lusa