The number of blood donors aged 16 to 25 has been declining in Singapore, in a worrying trend.
Their numbers have fallen by 36 per cent in the past decade, from 21,793 in 2011 to 13,967 last year. They now make up about 20 per cent of the donor pool, down from about 33 per cent 10 years ago.
This was flagged by the Singapore Red Cross (SRC). Highlighting the seriousness of the situation, the SRC told The Straits Times earlier this week that about 600 donors stop donating each year owing to age or illness.
Donations have declined more significantly recently due to the pandemic, it said. For instance, last year, during the two heightened alert phases with stricter curbs, and the Omicron wave, 69 mobile blood drives were cancelled, including those in tertiary institutions.
“Community blood drives bring convenience and have their own loyal following of donors; they are also an important platform to attract first-time donors,” said SRC chief executive Benjamin William.
While the overall proportion of donors has remained constant in the last decade, at around 1.8 per cent of the population, the demand for blood transfusion increases every year.
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