People in NW China Active on Blood DonationA free blood-donation station has opened in this capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for volunteers to donate blood.Hundreds of volunteers went to the station to donate blood in the past few days. "The station's medical condition and facilities are advanced and it only takes 15 minutes to complete a physical examination and blood donation," said a medic with the station. Volunteers often donate blood here on their way to or from work, he said. "I donated blood when I am in good health, in return, free blood will be available for me when I need it in future," said Ma Jun, a local young resident. There are 1.7 million residents in Urumqi. Before setting up the station, the city only had a blood center and a bloodmobile, which cannot satisfy the need for blood donation as it requires some 10 tons of blood a year. The city plans for setting up three additional free blood- donation stations and add five bloodmobiles by the end of this year. Free blood donations will replace blood that was paid for, which was the usual method for supplying hospitals in the past, said a local medical official. |
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