ISLAMABAD: The newly-opened Regional Blood Centre (RBC) in the federal capital has the capacity to collect, process and distribute more than 50,000 donations annually. Activities like mass awareness campaigns, blood donation drives and blood testing will be carried out at this centre on a regular basis.

Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) spokesperson Sajid Shah, while talking to Dawn said the government, with technical and financial support from Germany, was implementing a programme titled ‘Establishment of Safe Blood Transfusion Services in Islamabad’.

“It aims at reforming the blood transfusion system along the lines of international models in Islamabad. RBC Islamabad, measuring 21,000 square feet has been constructed on the premises of National Institute of Health (Chak Shahzad) through a German grant and renounced under the Safe Blood Transfusion Services Project, Ministry of National Health Services.

“Each section of the centre, especially the laboratory is fully equipped with state-of-the-art machinery for blood processing, screening, storage and distribution. Moreover, a system of traceability for proper identification and record maintenance as well as surveillance of adverse reactions has also been installed and connected through management information systems (MIS) with hospitals,” Mr Shah said.

Testing of all donated blood for transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) will be carried out and its clinical use will be promoted. The overall goal of the project is to reduce the spread of TTIs caused by unsafe blood transfusions.

“The centre serves as a central blood processing, screening, storage and distribution unit for all government hospitals in Islamabad,” he said.

Meanwhile, RBC officials continue to collect blood donations for the second day in F-9 Park.

“We were happy to welcome people from all walks of life at our donation camp. They were briefed about the benefits and importance of being a regular blood donor. The compassionate response we received is a testimony of charitable and selfless nature of our people. People should donate today and save up to three lives,” the RBC spokesperson said.

Inauguration of dry storage warehouse

World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director Dr Ahmed Al Mandhari and WHO Pakistan Representative Dr Palitha Mahipala inaugurated a dry storage warehouse at the Federal Directorate of Immunisation (FDI) to enhance the warehouse’s storage capacity for vaccine-related supplies and other equipment.

Representatives from the government participated in the event. Dr Al Mandhari visited Pakistan to participate in the Polio Oversight Board meeting with high-level leadership.

The warehouse has been established on a covered area of 1,674 cubic metres, whereas storage capacity of racks inside the warehouse is 1,400 cubic metres. Following WHO’s standards, the facility is equipped with a cargo lift, concrete ramp, pallet racking, firefighting and CCTV system.

“WHO is committed towards supporting Pakistan’s government to technically implement the Routine Immunisation Programme in the country and improve the health infrastructure for quality services,” Dr Al Mandhari said.

He also appreciated the close collaboration between WHO and government counterparts to deliver the health programmes.

Dr Palitha Mahipala said: “The warehouse will cater to the infrastructure needs of rapidly evolving operations of FDI and help expand the service delivery.”

He thanked the government and FDI leadership for their cooperation during the construction phase despite an extensive commitment to the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

In September 2021, WHO Representative Dr Palitha Mahipala laid the ground-breaking stone of the warehouse.

The government counterpart thanked WHO for their continued support in improving public health infrastructure and technical assistance.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2022