Blood donations decline

Hematologist says 70% drop seen during holy month

KARACHI:

Ali, who is in his twenties, has been a regular blood donor. He is active on multiple social media platforms where he gathers donors if there is an urgent need of blood. In the holy month, though, he says there is a drastic drop in people volunteering to donate blood. "It could be because most people are fasting and fear that the weakness might impact them," says Ali.

The situation is worse than Ali fears. Professor Shahid Rasool, the executive director at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), says that blood donations have witnessed a 70 per cent decline this year. "It has become difficult for people affected by thalassemia, hemophilia and other blood diseases to get treatment," he said. Women suffering from anemia and citizens injured in accidents also struggle to find blood. "Blood donations are decreasing on a daily basis," observed Prof Rasool. Resultantly, getting rare blood types, such as O negative, has become an uphill battle.

The challenge is acute for parents of children who have thalassemia, hemophilia and other blood diseases. Dr Maysa Sajeel, who runs the Muhammadi Blood Bank, said that there was reluctance among people to donate while fasting. "People fear that donating blood might make them weak and that their immunity might falter during the fast." She added that blood donation can help save lives. "A single blood donation can alleviate the suffering of patients. A person who meets the criteria for blood donation should donate," the doctor added.

Hematologists add that the greatest challenge in Ramazan is the O negative blood type, which is quite difficult even on normal days.

Benefits

Blood donations also help screen your blood for diseases and infection. The blood banks They check the blood pressure, and whether the amount of blood is normal or not. Blood level should be 12.6 g/dL in women and 13.5 g/ dL in men. Doctors say donating blood has positive effects on health.

The blood pressure remains normal, the heart is supplied with clean blood, and the blood cells break down in 120 days itself. The donated blood, meanwhile, regenerates within 48 hours. Donors need to ensure there is enough hydration and sodium in their body. They should use more water and juices and try to eat foods that are high in water.

Endless wait

A lot of patients who need blood transfusion come from far, including from small towns and villages in Sindh. It includes children with inherited disorders such as thalassemia and hemophilia. For these children's parents, often with limited means and education, it is a constant journey from blood bank to the next in search for the blood that would save their child's lives.

If they don't find blood, which happens more often in Ramazan, they have no other option but to sit in the waiting areas of these health centres and hospitals waiting for someone to donate.