KARACHI, June 19: The acting president and Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro hinted at a new legislation that would require marrying couples to undergo thalassaemia screening test prior to marriage.

The senate chairman said that he would personally stress the legislatures to pass the law- in line with Iran and other countries.

He was speaking at a ceremony, organized by the Fatimid Foundation to mark the second World Blood Donor Day, here on Saturday night.

Highlighting the importance of blood donation, Mr Soomro said that it was imperative to provoke a sense of service to the humanity among the people for overall prosperity of the society. Besides, he added, blood donation was also good for one’s health.

Referring to the available data that 60 per cent of Pakistan population comprises adults while only 20 per cent of them donate their blood voluntarily, Mr Soomro urged for an effective motivation campaign in the back drop of the fact that 8,000 people in the country needed blood donation daily while 4,000 would actually manage getting it.

He reminded that besides the routine condition in which blood was required in emergencies it also enhanced the need for safe and quality blood.

Mr Soomro also assured support for another proposal submitted on the occasion regarding law to promote voluntary donation among the adult population in the country.

He lauded the services of the Fatimid Foundation and like organizations for serving the humanity and termed it a noble deed.

Earlier, Fatimid Foundation Chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Moinuddin Haider said 11,500 thalassaemia-infected children depended on this foundation.

He said the foundation, throughout the country, never faced any blood shortage due to the priceless willingness of blood donors.

Mr Haider paid rich tributes to the senate chairman for his long affiliation with blood donation services and personal interest.

He stressed the need for conducting thalassaemia-screening tests especially considering inter-family marriages in Pakistan.

Dr Syed Abdul Mujeeb, in charge blood bank JPMC, explaining the unorthodox benefits of blood donation said that the analysis of medical history revealed that blood donation was an ancient practice.

He also highlighted the benefits of blood donation and its impacts on mental and physical health.

Another positive aspect of blood donation is its screening and test, which restricts the spread of severe diseases like Hepatitis and HIV to an individual if the infection is timely found, Mr Mujeeb added.

Farhana Memon, Provincial Programme Manager, Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority said after the enactment of law in 1997 to regulate blood transfusion service and ensure safe blood, the blood mafia in Sindh had been completely wiped out. —PPI/APP