Pechuho stresses safe blood transfusion system

Directs SBTA to inform donors of screening systems for timely treatment

KARACHI:

Provincial Minister for Health and Population Dr Azra Pechoho has directed the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA) to strictly implement the safe screening system for blood transfusion across the province.

The minister said this while presiding over the third board meeting of SBTA held at her office on Thursday. SBTA Secretary Dr Zahid Hussain Ansari, Director Dr Dar Naz Jamal and other board members attended the meeting.

Around 427 small and large blood banks are functioning in the province, out of which 46 are in the public sector, 281 in the private sector while100 are functioning under the management of various NGOs. In addition to this, 142 new blood banks have been given registration and permitted to operate.

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Around 243 blood banks in Sindh have been sealed after taking action on the basis of complaints about poor management including supply of expired and unsafe blood.

The board was also informed that after screening 455,742 blood samples from January 2021 to August 2021 in the province, 24,088 blood samples have been identified as carrying various diseases.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2021.