KARACHI: Blood banks operating illegally to be closed
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Aug 16: A drive would be launched by the Sindh government within the next 20 days to close down all the blood banks operating illegally in the province.
This was stated by Faisal Malik, adviser on health to Sindh's chief minister on Monday at a ceremony during which the services rendered by blood donors were highlighted. Awards were presented to the regular donors during the event organized by the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority.
Speaking as the chief guest, Mr Malik said the daily requirement of blood donors stood at 5,000. "But only 500 people donated blood voluntarily every day." Quackery would soon be eradicated under the first provincial health policy which was being formulated by the health department. He asked the health secretary to help motivate the government employees to donate blood voluntarily.
He said the political party to which he belonged, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, would be helping the non-governmental organizations active in the area of safe transfusion to create awareness about the importance of voluntary donation of blood.
Lt-Gen Moinuddin Haider, chief of the Thalassaemia Federation of Pakistan, said several laws needed to be formulated for the benefit of the people. "But the provincial and national legislators are usually busy in trying to resolve some petty problems instead."
He said whole blood should not be transfused to the patients because after separation of blood components one bag of blood could be transfused into several patients. "Fortunately, awareness has already been created in this regard and we are now on the road to the use of separate blood products instead of whole blood."
Mr Haider said good education and health policies provided the basis for development initiatives. In the absence of proper health and education policies no people could make progress.
He said 29 organizations were active in the area of blood donation and banking. "But there was a need for a national body in this area which has been fulfilled with the launch of our organization."
Filmstar Nadeem announced on the occasion that he was ready to work day and night for creating awareness of the importance of voluntary donation of blood. He said he was honoured to play a "small role" in the Jihad against ignorance and disease.
Dr Abdul Mujeeb of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre said hundreds of thallasaemic patients and thousands of pregnant women suffered every month due to the shortage of safe blood in the province. The shortage could be overcome if every Pakistani donated blood voluntarily on his or her birthday, he added.
Dr Farhana Memon, chief of the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority, spoke of the need to expand the provincial initiative for voluntary donation of blood. Later, awards and mementos were presented to some regular donors.
Views were also expressed by some Thallasaemic children, including Masters Zaheeruddin and Umar, who said they owed their lives to the people who donated blood voluntarily. The health adviser announced a grant of Rs25,000 to one of the Thallasaemic children.
