The World Health Organization said that its South-East (SE) region faces deficit of voluntary blood donation against the demand for safe blood for emergencies round the year.
“The Region (11 countries) requires around 18 million units of blood every year, against the 15.5 million units collected,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO’s South-East Asia Region Director.
In a media statement, she added that the donation of one unit of blood (450 mL) can potentially save at least three lives. “If one to three per cent of the total population donates blood regularly, a country’s requirement of safe blood can be met.”
In the 11 countries of WHO’s South-East Asia Region, including Bangladesh, every two seconds, someone needs a blood transfusion for management of childhood diseases complicated by severe anaemia, malaria, pregnancy-related complications, trauma cases, surgeries and other medical emergencies including cancer treatment.
Dr Poonam, however, cautions that blood transfusion carries a potential risk of complications and transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs). Any security break in the transfusion system can further infect an already sick and injured recipient to a life-threatening infection.
She said WHO has developed a global strategy that highlights the need for the establishment of nationally coordinated blood transfusion services to help countries reduce the burden of diseases due to unsafe blood transfusion.
She also addressed the issues related to 100 percent collection of blood from voluntary non-remunerated donors (VNRDs) in low-risk areas, and 100 percent testing of all donated blood for the main blood borne pathogens, testing for compatibility and blood grouping, and reduction in unnecessary transfusion and rational use of blood.
