KARACHI -
Health experts have said that 92 million blood donations are made annually around the world, 50 per cent donations are made in high income countries housing only 15 per cent world population. Dow University is working hard to mobilise voluntary blood donor in order to cater the demand of the blood, they said while speaking at a seminar on Transfusion Medicine Update, organised by Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) at its Arag auditorium of Dow Medical here on Thursday with an aim to discussed blood transfusion and its related problems in Pakistan and to mobilise the voluntary blood donation.
DUHS Vice Chancellor Prof Masood Hameed Khan said that realising the need of blood and its component, Dow University established Dr Ishratul Ebad Institute of Blood Diseases at Ojha Campus.
He said that donating blood is not only helping the ailing humanity but on the other hand it prevents the person from various other diseases like HIV, Hepatitis B and C etc. He said that University is working hard to mobilise voluntary blood donor in order to cater the demand of the blood. Dr Tahir Shamsi, Professor of Haematology said that blood transfusion has become very safe during the last two decades.
“Globally 92 million blood donations are made annually, 50 per cent donations are made in high income countries housing only 15 per cent world population 36.4/ 1000 people donated blood in high income countries, 11.6/1000 people donated blood in middle income countries and 2.8/1000 people donated blood in low income countries. 31 per cent blood collected is separated into components in low income countries compare to 91 per cent in high income countries. WHO recommends that all donated blood must be screened for HCV, HBV, HIV, Syphillis and Malaria.
He stressed that the collection of 100 per cent blood from non-paid voluntary donors and employment of properly trained staff in blood bank will further help in minimizing the adverse events associated with blood transfusion therapy.
Dr. Zahid Hasan Ansari, Provincial Program Manager, Sindh blood transfusion program said that Keeping in view all that situation, Sindh Government took an appreciating step to regulate this simple and ordinary medical practice to strict discipline and enacted a statute called ‘Sindh Transfusion of Safe Blood Act 1997”. The function of the authority is adopt and develop a uniform policy covering all aspects of Safe Blood Transfusion, Register and issue licenses to blood banks in the prescribed manner, Ensure bio-safety measures according to World Health Organisation’s guidelines and monitor and carry out periodical inspection.
Dr Zainab Mukhtar speaking on Adverse Transfusion Reactions and its Management said that Transfusion Reaction is an unfavorable transfusion-related event occurring in a patient during or after transfusion of blood components Prof Dr Akber Agha and Dr Asrhaf Memon also spoke on the occasion.
AKU postpones ceremony
Aga Khan University Hospital has announced that due to the current political and volatile city’s law and order situation, the World Family Doctor Day which was scheduled to be held on May 18, 2013 has been postponed. According to announcement, issued on Thursday, the new date of the event will be announced later.