KARACHI: Highlighting the sufferings of parents and their children living with thalassaemia, especially during Ramazan when the stocks in blood banks drop to a critical level, a senior official of the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA) has urged citizens to participate in the upcoming voluntary blood donation drive in large numbers to help save lives in the holy month.

The mega one-day drive will be launched on Monday (today) at the Maritime Museum, Karsaz.

“The Ramazan experience (of these families) is entirely different from ours as they struggle for their children’s lives. I get frantic calls late at night from parents, looking for blood donations,” shared SBTA secretary Dr Dur-e-Naz Jamal at a briefing held at the Karachi Press Club on Saturday.

She explained that the dire situation developed because people usually didn’t donate blood during the holy month.

SBTA to launch drive at Maritime Museum today

“While blood donation doesn’t pose any harm to a healthy person in fasting, public reluctance is widespread. Hence, we urge people to donate blood before Ramazan in large numbers so there is no blood shortage during the holy month. Please come forward and help save lives. Make this Ramazan a month of peace and happiness for these families, too” she said, adding that one donation helped save three lives.

Donating blood not only saved lives but also carried surprising health benefits, she said and added: “Studies have shown that blood donation reduces the risk for several illnesses including heart diseases and even cancer and enhances immunity levels, among other health benefits. Apart from that, the satisfaction one gets from saving someone’s life boosts mental well-being.”

According to Dr Jamal, the number of only registered children with thalassaemia in the province is 17,000, and this number could be much higher.

Replying to a question, she said investigations into the HIV cases involving children showed that all of them got blood (for transfusion) from unregistered banks. “There are 209 registered blood banks whose names are listed on the STBA’s website. I urge parents to get blood from banks that are registered.”

On safe blood screening, she said the detection rate of infectious diseases in donations was around five per cent.

“It’s higher if we compare it with international standards. The screening is conducted for five diseases, including hepatitis B and C and HIV.”

About the upcoming drive, she said the government was engaging all stakeholders, including universities, thalassaemia centres, non-profit organisations and hospitals. “It would be a mega event. We will be acknowledging blood donors by offering them medals and certificates. There will be entertainment activities too, including a lucky draw.”

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2026