ISLAMABAD: While thousands of people have lost their lives due to Covid-19, even more lives are at risk due to shortage of blood.
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri said this during a blood donation camp organised by Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) on Wednesday.
Those suffering from leukemia, thalassemia, hemophilia, anemia or those undergoing critical surgeries or were injured in road accidents are always in need of blood, he said.
Lauding the initiative, Mr Suri urged all people to wholeheartedly help the PRCS in this humanitarian cause.
Global facts and figures from 2011 show that in 62 countries, national blood supplies were based on almost 100pc or more than 99.9pc, voluntary unpaid blood donations. As many as 40 countries collected less than 25pc of their blood supplies from unpaid blood donors. The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) goal was for all countries to obtain blood supplies from voluntary unpaid donors by 2020, but this is not the case in Pakistan. Blood supply has instead depleted in the country during the pandemic.
Urges people to help PRCS in this humanitarian cause
Speaking on the occasion, PRCS Chairman Abrarul Haq said Pakistan has an additional requirement of blood supply because of a high number of thalassemia patients, adding that the challenge has magnified due to lack of blood donors.
“Estimates suggest that only 28 out of 10,000 people donate blood in Pakistan. Out of these, only 11pc of the donations are by people who don’t have a friend or family in immediate need. It is estimated that every five minutes, someone is killed or badly injured in a road accident in Pakistan out of which many lose their lives for want of timely supply of blood.
“According to a Pakistan Thalassemia Centre report, Pakistan has approximately 100,000 patients suffering from genetic blood disorder. Among other diseases, an estimated 5,000 children with beta thalassemia are born per year. Donating blood is not only a great deed but it also helps donors to stay healthy, energetic and rejuvenated all year round,” he added.
Meanwhile, during an event held at Shifa International Hospital in connection with World Cancer Day, consultant and Radiation Oncologist Dr Asif Masood said cancer is the third cause of death and according to WHO’s recent data about Pakistan — 200,000 new cancer cases are being reported every year, out of which 40 to 50pc of the patients lose their lives because of late diagnosis and treatment.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in Pakistan while the second most common is cancer of the head and neck. Lung cancer is the third most common.
The day is being observed under the theme, “I Am and I Will” to raise public awareness and access to information regarding early detection and diagnosis to prevent deaths.
Dr Asif emphasised upon the need for early detection, screening, and treatment, adding treatment of the disease depends upon how far the cancer has spread; after that is determined, patients are given options including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
Another expert Dr M. Farrukh said more than one third of cancer cases can be prevented and another one third can be cured if detected early and treated properly, adding: “By implementing resource-appropriate strategies, we can save up to 3.7 million lives every year.”
Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2021
