Experts at a seminar on safe blood transfusion at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) called upon the able persons to increase blood donations as the lives of many, particularly mothers and children, are in dire need of such charity.
They assured people that a gift of blood does not have any negative effect on the body, rather it improves functioning of organs and provides a free test for hematological disorders, commonly known as TTI.
The seminar was organized on Monday to mark the ” World Blood Donation Day” with chairman of the Blood Transfusion Department, Dr Jolly Biswas presiding. Others who spoke at the seminar were additional registrar, BSMMU and associate professor of the department, Dr. Md. Asadul Islam. Dr. Sheikh Saiful Islam Shahin submitted a case study.
The doctors said the deficit in required safe blood supply is filled up by tainted blood which could lead to HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis-B, Hepatitis-C, Malaria, Syphilis and other complicated diseases, many of them fatal.
Participants at the seminar said that six lakh bags of blood are required in the country, every year. Of which 69 per cent come from relatives, while volunteers donate 31 per cent. But this is not enough to meet total demand.
Every year 150, 000 mothers die, globally, because of inadequacy of safe blood while giving birth. Besides, many people who come with injuries also die because of lack of blood. Therefore, “it is extremely important that we should attain the 100 per cent voluntary blood donation programme by 2020”, they said.
