Thousands at risk due to blood shortage

Ali Zaib Foundation executive director requests immediate support from donor agencies, provincial govt

The ongoing lockdown is hampering the treatment of a large number of children suffering from thalassemia, hemophilia and blood cancer which requires constant medical attention and blood transfusion every 15-20 days.

Ali Zaib Foundation Executive Director Syed Shahid Ali Zaidi said this on Friday while requesting immediate support from the business community, donor agencies and the provincial government to save the lives of these patients.

“Our foundation has been providing free blood transfusion facilities to more than 4,500 registered patients of thalassemia, hemophilia, and blood cancer in five major cities of Punjab, which requires nearly 80 to 90 pints of blood each day.”

He maintained that there is a severe shortage of blood since the main source was students of colleges and universities.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2020.