Multiple people from islands in Haa Dhaalu Atoll and from Male’ City were transported to Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital on Thursday to donate blood for a dengue patient in critical condition.
Wafiyya Ali, 43, from Nolhivaranfaru, was admitted to Kulhudhuffushi Hospital on Tuesday after contracting dengue and experiencing a dangerously low platelet count. When her condition deteriorated, her brother Mohamed Ali, who works in Male’, immediately travelled to Kulhudhuffushi to assist.
Mohamed told Sun that doctors initially informed him they needed four donors. But his sister’s blood type, AB negative, is extremely rare, making the search difficult.
He said he reached out to friends, island councils, police and the military in an urgent effort to find donors.
The call for help brought donors from Dhidhdhoo, Hanimaadhoo and Nolhivaram. A foreign lab technician working at the hospital also stepped forward to donate.
According to Mohamed, doctors later informed him that two additional donors were required even after transfusions from the first four. One donor was found in Nolhivaram, and another, a soldier based in Male’, agreed to help.
HDh. Nolhivaranfaru. (Photo/Zuvaan Masveriya)
Mohamed said the family paid for the soldier’s ticket and arranged his travel to Hanimaadhoo.
“We had to bring in someone who had a very busy schedule,” he said.
After transfusions from six donors, doctors informed the family that Wafiyya’s platelet count had finally begun to rise.
“With God’s grace, we don’t need more blood at this time, and my sister’s condition is good now,” Mohamed said.
Despite the improvement, doctors advised the family to continue identifying potential donors, given the scarcity of AB negative blood.
Mohamed expressed deep gratitude to the donors who travelled by sea from nearby islands and to the soldier who flew from Male’. He said one of the biggest challenges was securing a Maldivian Airlines ticket for the donor travelling from the capital.
“If there were easier rules for such cases, it would help a lot. You only get the ticket after reaching a point of real desperation,” he said.
Man donates blood. (Sun Photo/Maaniu Mohamed)
A round‑trip ticket between Male’ and Kulhudhuffushi on Maldivian currently costs around MVR 3,000.
Concerns have been growing over a decline in blood donations in Male’ in recent weeks. Last month, Maldives Blood Services (MBS) issued a public appeal due to shortages at the national blood bank.
The Blood App has also reported that supplies remain low. The app noted that resorts often struggle to send donors during peak tourism season, contributing to the shortage. Blood availability is expected to return to normal levels by the middle of next month, once the peak season ends.