“Give the gift of life: donate blood,”Have you donated ? Myths and Realities.

This was the caption given by World Health Organization to educate and promote blood donation.Globally 14th June is celebrated as World Blood Donor Day,with some lectures and news in electronic and print media are given by White color executives who have little or no knowledge.What Blood actually is and why even a drop is important for a person who dies for want of it. In India alone,4 Million units are required annually but what is available is a meager 0. 4 Million,in a country which is the second most populous with more then 1.4Billion population on board , 60% being categorized under young and adult.One can imagine the quantum of misconceptions,myths,fears and half knowledge associated with it.

Millions lives are lost or body parts are amputated  every year ,otherwise salvageable, due to scarcity of blood. People are scared  to donate blood for various queasy reasons, you poke them further and they show petulancy in no time.As a medico professional my heart pours out when I hear a precious life of  a son ,a father ,a mother ,a brother,a sister,a solder et al ,is lost . Isn’t it criminal,a cold blooded murder,shouldn’t we feel ashamed. What if it was you,your son,your father,your mother,your brother,your sister? When someone is trapped himself then only he realizes the pain and trauma of non-availability. Then people shamelessly ask Sir, please check if you have extra blood in your blood bank or where can we buy blood,as if blood is made artificially. This pathetic and conservative approach for donation is not only because people are afraid of donating but they are not aware of the myths and realities associated.

Did You Know:

• Did you know that one blood donation could save three lives?
• Blood transfusion can save people with severe trauma following accidents; many surgical, cancer patients .
• Blood transfusion can save children with severe anemia, often resulting from malaria or malnutrition.
• Blood transfusion can save women with complications of pregnancy and hemorrhage before, during or after childbirth.
• In high-income countries, 76% of those receiving blood transfusions are above 65 years of age .
• Low-income countries: up to 65% of blood transfusions are given to children under five years of age.
• Blood donation rate per 1000 population is about 12 donations in middle-income countries and 4 donations in low-income countries.
• In high-income countries, blood donation rate is about 39 donations per 1000 population All blood donations should be screened for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis infection prior to use .
• There are about 10,000 blood centers in 168 countries collecting a total of 83 million blood donations.
• High-income countries: blood transfusions mostly for care in heart surgery, transplant surgery, trauma and cancer therapy.
• Low-, middle-income countries: blood transfusion usually related to pregnancy, childbirth complications, severe childhood anemia .
• 73 countries are still collecting more than 50% of their blood supply from family or paid donors.
• Currently, 60 countries collect 100% of their blood supply from voluntary unpaid blood donors.
• More voluntary blood donors needed to meet growing needs, to improve access to safe blood, blood products .
• Many patients requiring life-saving transfusion do not have timely access to safe blood and blood products.
• Globally, women contribute 30% of all blood donations. However in some countries, this figure is less than 10%.
• Unpaid, regular blood donors are vital to ensure a sufficient, stable blood supply .
• 350ml of blood – approx. amount taken in one blood donation – is less than 10% of the total blood in your body .
• Healthy adults can give blood regularly – at least thrice a year.

Coming up next FAQs’ for Blood Donation-Myths and Realities.

If this post can save even a life –It would be a new beginning,to otherwise insensitive and  self fish society.