A Health Expert in connection with the ‘World blood donation day’ urged the community especially youth for promoting a practice of volunteer safe blood donation on social media as only 10 per cent blood comes from voluntary donors, while 90 per cent of the collection comes from families’ replacement donations in the country.
Talking to a private news channel, General Physician Dr. Maryum Sharif stressed the importance of promoting a voluntary blood donation culture in the country which would further improve the blood safety standards manifold.
She regretted that blood banks across the country are facing a shortage of volunteer blood components, with demand from patients with thalassemia, cancer, trauma, and many other emergency interventions, adding, it is important that people should be aware and encouraged the trend of blood donation.
She said those people who donate blood are at less risk of heart attacks.
It is backed by a study done by the American Journal of Epidemiology, donating blood once a year could decrease the risk of a heart attack in a person by 88 percent.
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This relates to the iron issue again, says Dr. David Dragoo, a healthcare expert at Money Crashers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the removal of red blood cells by phlebotomy (or donating blood) is the preferred treatment for patients with excess iron in their blood.
Dr. Maryum said a healthy person can donate blood every 2 to 3 months, adding, healthy people particularly the youth have to donate blood on a regular basis three to four times a year.
Dr. Maryum said in Pakistan every year just around 3.5 million people were donating blood which needed to be increased by conducting awareness sessions at educational institutions.
She also called on the government and health sector to ensure sufficient resources and facilities to the quality and effectiveness of blood collection.
By donating blood, a person can go through a mini-medical check-up, screening of body, and mini blood test before giving blood, which is best practice to control major blood-borne diseases and can expect a call if you test positive for any of them, she mentioned.
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Courtesy: APP with Contribution from GVS