Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA) on the eve of World Blood Donor Day organized a Seminar and Awareness Program recently at a local hotel in Karachi.
Dr. Zahid Ansari, Provincial Programme Manager and Secretary, Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority on the occasion said that due to lack of understanding and strange beliefs about blood donations, the country requires 7,800 blood donations daily but due to lack of understanding and strange beliefs about the endeavour, this need cannot be met.
He said that the situation in Pakistan has changed from what it used to be and it demands of the society to come forward to donate blood to save lives.
“While there is a looming threat of terrorism in the country, scores of people die due to clashes in the city, it requires cooperation on the part of our society, and sadly there are facilities but not enough volunteers to donate blood,” Dr. Ansari said.
Talking about, what he called “wrong beliefs of the people” he said that unlike what is widely believed, donating blood is healthy for the body, as it cleanses it.
Giving an example of Iran, Dr. Ansari said that the country boasts of 98 percent of warranted donors whereas the remaining 2 percent are those who donate blood to their family members. “Contrary to that, in our country, we have 2 percent of the population who voluntarily donate blood and the remaining 98 percent limit themselves to their close circle”.
Dilating, he said that many people thonk that donating blood is “unhealthy and unclean”. However, the fact is that donating blood guards against heart diseases and other problems, as long as the blood is circulating in the body, it cleanses itself on its own.” He said that it would be better if we could abandon our old beliefs and step forward with a new way of thinking which could help others as well.
What Dr Ansari said is in line with this year’s theme which is called ‘New Blood for the New World’ through which doctors will acquaint people with the importance of voluntary blood donation. “Just donating blood on special occasions is not enough. We need to realise that our donation might help someone desperately in need of transfusion”.
What usually triggers panic in hospitals is when a patient has O-Negative blood type which is rare. The doctor said that it is more important to have O-Negative blood type on hand so that a patient does not have to die just because there is not enough blood.
Sindh has around 138 blood banks of which 67 are privately owned. Thirty-seven belong to various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and 34 are government-owned. Just two years back there were only 19 blood banks, said Dr Ansari, adding that the number had now multiplied and stressed that they need voluntary blood donors who could voluntarily donate their blood.