“These donors were unable to donate due to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, commonly known as Mad Cow Disease… Thailand is one of the first non-European countries to welcome back these donors,” Nancy Rower of the Thailand Rh-Negative Blood Donation Facebook Group told The Phuket News.
The change to allow such foreigners to make blood donations has been very well received.
“The Western population has a relatively high percentage of Rh-Negative, as much as 15% to 22%, depending on the region,” Ms Rower explained.
“This is an EXTREMELY Rare Blood Type in the Thai population, less than 0.3%,” she said. “If you are Rh-Negative, please donate every 90 days. This will help many patients in need, both Western and Thai.”
Ms Rower stressed that Rh-Negative of all blood types was much needed.
The national Thai Red Cross Society confirmed the change to allow ’CJD-risk foreigners’ by amending its list of eligibility requirements late last month.
The PRBC confirmed the change to The Phuket News yesterday (June 8).
The move to allow more foreigners to give blood comes as the nation aims to achieve 10 million CCs in blood donations this year in honour of His Majesty The King’s 6th Cycle Birthday (72 years), to be commemorated with national celebrations on July 28.
Also, to mark World Blood Donor Day on June 14, donations at 12 Regional Blood Centers throughout the country, including in Phuket, from June 10-14 will see the donor receive a special souvenir T-shirt.
The full schedule of mobile blood donation clinics to be held by the PRBC in Phuket throughout the rest of June is as follows:
June 10: 09:00 - 12:00 - Thai Muang District Office, Phang Nga
June 11: 10:00 - 15:00 - Muang Thalang School, Phuket
June 12: 09:30 - 13:00 - Phanom Benja School, Krabi
June 13: 09:00 - 15:00 - Paradise Group, The Plaza Surin, Phuket
June 14: 08:30 - 16:30 - Phuket Blood Donation Center (World Blood Donation Day)
June 17: 09:00 - 12:00 - Takupa Saenanukul School, Phang Nga
June 18: 09:00 - 12:00 - Ramada Khaolak hotel, Phang Nga
June 18: 13:30 - 16:00 - Seaview Resort, Khao Lak, Phang Nga
June 19: 13:00 - 16:00 - Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach, Phuket
June 19: 13:00 - 16:00 - Blue Tree Phuket
June 20: 09:30 - 13:00 - Krabi Provincial Cooperative Office, Krabi
June 21: 12:00 - 18:00 - Lotus’s Thalang (beside S&P)
June 21: 12:00 - 18:00 - Lotus’s Phuket, bypass rod (beside Uniqlo)
June 22: 09:00 - 12:00 - Mazda Phuket Chaofa showroom (Chao Fa West Rd, Wichit), Phuket
June 23: 13:00 - 16:00 - Hope Church, bypass road, Ratsada, Phuket
June 24: 10:00 - 15:00 - Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket hotel, Cherng Talay
June 24: 13:00 - 16:00 - The Kee Resort & Spa, Patong
June 25: 09:30 - 13:00 - Ao Luek District Office, Krabi
June 26: 12:00 - 18:00 - Central Phuket, Floresta Building, 2nd floor (conference room)
June 26: 13:00 - 17:00 - Bangkok Hospital Phuket, 3rd floor (conference room)
June 27: 09:30 - 13:00 - Lam Thap District Office, Krabi
June 28: 09:00 - 15:00 - Rawai Park, Phuket
June 28: 12:00 - 18:00 - Central Phuket, Floresta Building, parking area ‘G’
The Blood Bank at Vachira Phuket Hospital is also continuing its ‘Mobile Blood Donation’ drive. The full schedule for Vachira Blood Bank’s mobile blood donation clinics is as follows:
June 9: 10:00 - 18:00 - Limelight Avenue Phuket (World Blood Donor Day Activity)
June 10: 10:00 - 15:00 - Anantara Phuket Villa hotel
June 11: 10:00 - 15:00 - Kathu Municipality Office
June 12: 10:00 - 15:00 - Provincial Electricity Authority, Patong
June 13: 10:00 - 15:00 - Muslim Wittaya Phuket School, Kow Kaew
June 17: 10:00 - 15:00 - Keemala hotel, Kamala
June 18: 10:00 - 15:00 - Karon Municipality
June 19: 10:00 - 15:00 - Cherng Talay Municipality
June 20: 10:00 - 15:00 - Chalong Municipality
June 21: 10:00 - 15:00 - The Nap Patong hotel
June 24: 13:00 - 16:00 - Kathu Wittaya School
June 25: 10:00 - 15:00 - Phuket Provincial Hall
June 26: 10:00 - 15:00 - PEA, Thalang
June 27: 10:00 - 15:00 - PEA, Phuket (Phuket Town)
June 28: 10:00 - 15:00 - Twinpalm hotel, Surin Beach
People can also donate blood directly at the Phuket Regional Blood Centre, located at 38/193 Rattanakosin 200 Pi Rd in Talad Neua, Phuket Town.
The centre is open:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 8:30am to 4:30pm
Tuesday, Thursday – 8:30am to 8pm
Saturday, Sunday, Public Holidays – 9am to 3pm
For more information contact the PRBC:
- Phone: 076-251178
- Mobile: 081-9588854
- Facebook: Phuket Red Cross Blood Donation Center
- LINE: @rdi1296r
The Blood Bank on the 4th floor of the outpatient building at Vachira Phuket Hospital, on Yaowarat Rd in Phuket Town, is listed as “always open” For more information: Tel: 076-361234 ext 1287; or visit Facebook: ธนาคารเลือด รพ.วชิระภูเก็ต (Vachira Phuket Hospital Blood Bank)
People presenting themselves to donate blood are asked to:
- Bring your ID card to verify your identity each time you donate.
- Ensure you are in good health.
- Get enough sleep the night before.
- Eat a complete meal.
- Avoid high-fat foods such as pork leg rice and chicken rice.
- Do not donate blood while taking antibiotics to ensure good quality blood.
- Drink 3-4 glasses of water.