KARACHI, June 15: Speakers at seminar on “focus on safe blood donation” said thousands of people die every year in Pakistan due to improper means of blood donation, inexpert staff, lack of awareness and misconception in masses on donating blood.
The seminar, organized by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) on Thursday in connection with World Blood Donors Day, was addressed by Dr Salman Safdar, provincial program officer WHO Sindh, Dr Sarfaraz Jafri Director Global Fund Project for safe blood technique, Dr Syed Abdul Mujib of Jinnah Hospital and Dr S M Shahzad Red Crescent Blood Bank. It was moderated by Fazal Qureshi, PPF Chairman.
Speakers said there was an urgent need for promoting safe and voluntary blood donation services by ensuring good licensing norms for blood banks.
Dr. Salman Safdar said stringent regulation at blood donation place are required to ensure blood safety. “Daily requirement of blood in the country is about 12 to 8 thousand units, while there was a collection of only four to five thousand units.''
The concept of repeat, regular donors is almost non-existent now. ''If just three to five per cent of eligible people donate blood once a year, there would be adequate blood supply.
Dr. Sarfaraz Jafri said inadequate infrastructure, lack of manpower and insufficient training for blood banks were some problems affecting blood safety.
Dr Syed Mujib said imparting quality training to staff, upgrading standards and adopting new technologies were very important for ensuring safely transfusion of blood.
Dr S M Shahzad said post-transfusion infection in patients could be significantly lowered if concentrated efforts at government level were done.
AKU SEMINAR: At another seminar, organized on the World Blood Donors Day at Aga Khan University, speakers said voluntary donors have the lowest incidence of Hepatitis B and C.
Dr Khalid Zafar Hashmi, President of the Pakistan Society for Hematology, said out of all blood donors, 25 per cent are voluntary, who have the lowest incidence of Hepatitis B and C, while commercial donors have the highest percentage of this disease.
Dr Bushra Moiz highlighted the fact that over 30,000 women die each year during pregnancy or delivery in Pakistan. Calling for development and implementation of a national blood transfusion policy, she mentioned that there was a serious shortage of safe blood in the country, and emphasized the importance of developing systems for strong laboratory quality assurance practices, and using the correct methodologies for proper screening.
Asma Mumtaz Channa, a former patient of the University Hospital and blood recipient, compared blood to divine gifts like water, and listed various circumstances under which blood is needed. Mr Firoz Rasul, President of Aga Khan University also spoke.—PPI/APP
