Ley App declares national blood emergency, urges public to donate immediately

The Maldives is facing a national blood supply emergency, with dangerously low reserves threatening the ability to meet urgent medical needs.

Maldives Blood Services (MBS) issued a public appeal last Thursday, and the Ley App, developed to connect donors and recipients, confirmed Thursday that the shortage is affecting cancer patients, pregnant women, and others in need of life-saving transfusions.

Ley App has urged all eligible donors to come forward immediately, warning that delays could disrupt emergency surgeries, childbirth care, and chronic treatments.

The shortage stems from multiple factors: a drop in new donor registrations, reduced turnout during school holidays, seasonal illnesses, and increased hospital admissions linked to poor air quality. Blood donation rates also typically decline during Ramadan.

Ley App emphasized that blood donation is safe and supervised, with health screening and blood group identification conducted before collection.

???? ފުރާނައެއް ގެއްލިދާން ނަގަނީ ކިހާ ވަގުތެއްތޯ؟ ސިކުންތު ކޮޅަކުންވެސް ފުރާނަ ގެއްލިގެން ހިނގައިދާނެ، ނޫންތޯ؟ ދެން ކީއްވެގެންތޯ ލޭ ހަދިޔާ ކުރުން އެއްމެ މިނެޓެއްވެސް ފަސްކޮއްލަންވީ؟ މަޑު ނުކޮށް، އަވަހަށް ލޭ ހަދިޔާކުރައްވާ. pic.twitter.com/7VcWbqvIvI

— Ley App (@leyapp_mv) January 28, 2026

Donors can give blood at:

• Maldives Blood Services (Orange Hiyaa)  

• Hulhumale' Hospital  

• Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH)  

The Orange Hiyaa blood bank is open daily from 08:00 to 20:00, except Sundays.

Eligibility criteria:

• Minimum age: 18 years  

• Minimum weight: 45 kg  

• Donors should get at least six hours of sleep and eat one hour before donating

The public is strongly encouraged to share this appeal and help mobilize new donors across communities and workplaces.