An urgent call has been out for blood donors in the north, to help the region’s 150 Thalassemia patients.

The call was put out by the head of the Turkish Cypriot Thalassemia Association, Derya Guven, who explained that around 600 units of blood were needed every month for blood transfusions.

Guven added that apart from thalassemia patients, the blood bank was low on all blood types.

“Please spare 15 minutes of your time to donate blood and save a life,” she said. Guven said that in addition to the Nicosia blood bank, banks in Famagusta and Kyrenia were ready and waiting for anyone wishing to drop in and donate there.

She added that a blood donor system needed to be set up to help overcome the lack of supply.

As well as the 150 Cypriot thalassemia patients, students and people with work permits with the same illness often came to the association for help. Guven said however because of the laws in place they were unable to help such people.

She also added that the north had eradicated thalassemia births since 2001 and this had been recorded as a success.