In Drenthe, people continue to heed the call to donate blood or plasma, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands. That is what blood bank Sanquin says.
Nationally, the number of donors is lagging behind. In the past three months, twelve percent fewer people have donated blood or plasma compared to the same period in 2021. The blood bank considers that ‘remarkably little’.
In addition, the number of new donors is lagging behind, especially in urban areas. Sanquin’s own research shows that donors mainly stay at home because of corona and flu. In addition, fatigue is playing an increasingly important role, which is often a result of a corona infection.
Against this national trend, residents of our province continue to ‘do quite well’, says Sanquin spokesperson Merlijn van Hasselt. “In Drenthe, people mainly continue to come if they are invited. Nevertheless, the call remains: come if you are invited to donate blood.”
Donors in Drenthe are not filling the shortages elsewhere in the country, however. “Drenthe does not have to save the rest of the Netherlands,” he emphasizes. There are five locations in Drenthe where you can donate blood. These are located in Emmen, Assen, Coevorden, Hoogeveen and Meppel.
In the near future Sanquin will address existing donors about the importance of donation, and there will be a national campaign in the hopes of getting the supply back up to standard. “Certainly in view of an expected further growing demand for blood from hospitals, which are scaling up the number of regular operations after corona.”