KARACHI, June 3: The need to develop culture of blood donation is strongly needed in the country where 75 per cent of its entire blood requirement is met through professional donors, leaving a large number of blood recipients vulnerable to a wide range of diseases.
According to experts, the country’s blood need of 1.5 million units per year could be easily met provided only those with appropriate health credentials commit themselves to donate blood regularly after every three months.
It may be reminded that 70 per cent of local women, at one or the other point of their lives, require blood transfusion, while shrinking families have reduced chances for a single family to arrange more than two to three units of blood for relatives.
Under the given situation, there is a dire need to create provision for the availability of safe blood round-the-clock in all banks and hospitals.
The need to dispel delusions regarding donation culture is also much needed. People may be reminded that there are generally no side-effects of blood donation. On the contrary, it has already been scientifically established that regular blood donation reduces chances of heart attack.
Pathologists, in this context, stress for proper storage facilities for blood donated in access to actual need, particularly during emergency situations.
It is often submitted that local blood banks must ensure proper confirmation of the blood group. Experts suggest a family blood donation campaign under which proper screening of the donor’s blood be carried out even if he is a close relative of the recipient.
Unfortunately, there currently exists absolute lack of political will towards the importance of safe blood transfusion services in the country. It could be well gauged from the fact that despite the passage of more than five years since the establishment of the Sindh Safe Blood Transfusion Authority, blood banks operating in the private sector have yet to be registered.
The situation has thus failed to bring blood banks, more than 100 in Karachi alone, under a system that makes it mandatory that they apply the required measures for dispensation of screened and safe blood among the people.
Public sensitization about conditions during which blood transfusion should be avoided along with regular campaigns to encourage volunteers willing to donate blood can be an effective strategy to promote availability of safe and healthy blood.—APP
