KARACHI, Dec 12: Need for developing culture of blood donation is strongly needed in the country where 75 per cent of its whole 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 unit per year could be easily met if only one per cent of the 140 million countrymen, with appropriate health credentials, commit themselves to donate blood regularly, after every three months.

Seventy per cent of local women at one or another point of their lives require blood transfusion. The shrinking size of family has reduced chances for a single family to arrange more than two to three units of blood for their needy relative.

Under the given situation there is a dire need to create provision for safe blood availability round the clock in all banks and hospitals.

The need to dispel the delusion 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.

The pathologists in this context stress proper storage facilities for blood donated in excess to the actual need, particularly during emergency situation. It is often submitted that local blood banks must ensure proper confirmation of the blood group of the donor prior to each transfusion.

There is also no dearth of experts suggesting for family blood donation campaign under which proper screening of the donor’s blood who may even be a close relative of the recipient.

Unfortunately, there currently exists 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 Sindh Safe Blood Transfusion Authority, the blood banks operating in the private sector are yet to be registered.

The situation has thus failed to bring blood banks, more than 100 in Karachi alone, under a system making it mandatory that they apply all required measures for the dispensation of screened and safe blood among people.

Public sensitization about the conditions during which blood transfusion should be avoided with regular campaigns to encourage volunteers willing to donate blood may be an effective strategy to promote the availability of safe and health blood.

Modifying public perception regarding blood donation is also urgently needed. — APP