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65707
Sun, 06/14/2009 - 13:19
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The UAE will join the world family on 14th June to mark the World Blood Donor Day 2009 under the global theme: ''Achieving 100 per cent non-remunerated donation of blood and blood components''
Millions of people around the world owe their lives to individuals they will never meet - people who donate their blood to help others. But millions more still can't get safe blood when they need it. World Blood Donor Day, celebrated on June 14 every year, provides a unique opportunity to thank those very special people that help and to raise awareness about the need for more support Dr. Amin Al Amiri, Chairman of the National Committee for Blood Transfusion, said the UAE) had made impressive strides in tackling the risk of contamination from unsafe blood by reaching close to 100% voluntary blood donation.
He said blood research and transfusion services in the UAE are among the best in the region using advanced laboratory and diagnostic technologies.
“Figures by the Ministry of Health's Department of Blood Transfusion and Research Services in Sharjah showed that collected blood units rose to 86,000 in 2008,''he said.
The state-of-the-art blood services in the UAE, he added, have earned the country international recognition, prompting the WHO to set up a regional centre for blood research and transfusion services in Sharjah.
He thanked the donors for coming forward to save lives of patients in need of blood
He added that the UAE nationals were taking the lead in donating their blood.
“The UAE blood donors took the lead among donors from over 86 nationalities accounting for 27 per cent of collected supply of blood in 2008,''he noted. He added that about 317 nation-wide blood donation campaigns were organised last year, collecting 20,729 units.
Studies reveal that some governments perceive the task of mobilizing the population to donate blood without payment or family interest as insurmountable. The UAE have shown that it is possible to change donor behaviour in a very short time, according to WHO.
The UAE was the first country in the region to stop importing blood in 1984, after the discovery of HIV/AIDS. In 1990, the government established a national blood transfusion programme and took legislative and policy measures to move to a system of 100% voluntary unpaid blood donation.
These rapid strides were made possible by creating an enabling political environment, fostering a culture of voluntary blood donation, using media and other channels to raise awareness, building a stable blood donor pool and providing quality care for donor health and safety.
"The UAE has clearly demonstrated the power of political commitment and community involvement and sets an example we hope other countries will follow," said Neelam Dhingra, Coordinator of Blood Transfusion Safety at WHO.
The global theme for 2009 - achieving 100 per cent non-remunerated donation of blood and blood components, places a renewed emphasis on improving the safety and sufficiency of blood supply. As more and more countries achieve the goal of 100 per cent voluntary non-remunerated blood donation, there is growing appreciation of the vital role of voluntary donors who donate blood on a regular basis. Not only are they the safest blood donors, they are also the foundation of sustainable national blood supplies that are sufficient to meet the needs of all patients requiring blood and blood components.
The focus of this theme is the use of innovative approaches to community participation to increase voluntary blood donation, maintenance of a stable pool of regular voluntary donors and establishing or expanding blood component programmes based on hundred percent voluntary non-remunerated donation to achieve self-sufficiency.
The global event on 14 June 2009 will be held in Melbourne, Australia, hosted by the Australian Government in close association with the Australian Red Cross and Australian Red Cross Blood Service. The WBDD celebration will take place during the Australian Year of the Blood Donor which aims to enhance awareness of the need for ongoing and increased blood donation as well as the recruitment of new donors.
It is estimated that more than 85 million blood donations are given every year.
About 35% of these are donated in developing and transitional countries where nearly 75% of the world's population lives. The average blood donation rate is more than 16 times higher in developed countries than in developing countries.
Blood is collected in about 8000 blood centres spread all over the world. The average annual blood donation per centre varies from 13 600 in developed countries to 6000 in transitional countries and around 2800 in developing countries.
Voluntary unpaid donors account for 100% of blood supplies in 57 countries. Since the inception of World Blood Donor Day in 2004, 111 countries report an increase in the number of voluntary donations. But in 42 countries, less than 25% of blood supplies come from voluntary unpaid donors.
The average donation rate in developed countries is 38.1 donations per 1000 people. This compares with 7.5 donations per 1000 people in transitional countries and 2.3 donations in developing countries. If 1% to 3% of a country's population donated blood, it would be sufficient to meet the country's needs. But in 73 countries, donation rates are still less than 1%.
Donated blood should always be screened for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis prior to transfusion, but in 41 countries (out of 162 countries reporting in 2007) not all donated blood is tested for one or more of these infections. Testing is not reliable in many countries because of staff shortages, poor quality test kits, irregular supplies, or lack of basic laboratory services.
Separating blood into its various components allows a single unit of blood to benefit several patients and provides the patient only that portion of blood which is needed. About 96% of the blood collected in developed countries, 66% in transitional countries and 40% in developing countries is separated into blood components.
He said blood research and transfusion services in the UAE are among the best in the region using advanced laboratory and diagnostic technologies.
“Figures by the Ministry of Health's Department of Blood Transfusion and Research Services in Sharjah showed that collected blood units rose to 86,000 in 2008,''he said.
The state-of-the-art blood services in the UAE, he added, have earned the country international recognition, prompting the WHO to set up a regional centre for blood research and transfusion services in Sharjah.
He thanked the donors for coming forward to save lives of patients in need of blood
He added that the UAE nationals were taking the lead in donating their blood.
“The UAE blood donors took the lead among donors from over 86 nationalities accounting for 27 per cent of collected supply of blood in 2008,''he noted. He added that about 317 nation-wide blood donation campaigns were organised last year, collecting 20,729 units.
Studies reveal that some governments perceive the task of mobilizing the population to donate blood without payment or family interest as insurmountable. The UAE have shown that it is possible to change donor behaviour in a very short time, according to WHO.
The UAE was the first country in the region to stop importing blood in 1984, after the discovery of HIV/AIDS. In 1990, the government established a national blood transfusion programme and took legislative and policy measures to move to a system of 100% voluntary unpaid blood donation.
These rapid strides were made possible by creating an enabling political environment, fostering a culture of voluntary blood donation, using media and other channels to raise awareness, building a stable blood donor pool and providing quality care for donor health and safety.
"The UAE has clearly demonstrated the power of political commitment and community involvement and sets an example we hope other countries will follow," said Neelam Dhingra, Coordinator of Blood Transfusion Safety at WHO.
The global theme for 2009 - achieving 100 per cent non-remunerated donation of blood and blood components, places a renewed emphasis on improving the safety and sufficiency of blood supply. As more and more countries achieve the goal of 100 per cent voluntary non-remunerated blood donation, there is growing appreciation of the vital role of voluntary donors who donate blood on a regular basis. Not only are they the safest blood donors, they are also the foundation of sustainable national blood supplies that are sufficient to meet the needs of all patients requiring blood and blood components.
The focus of this theme is the use of innovative approaches to community participation to increase voluntary blood donation, maintenance of a stable pool of regular voluntary donors and establishing or expanding blood component programmes based on hundred percent voluntary non-remunerated donation to achieve self-sufficiency.
The global event on 14 June 2009 will be held in Melbourne, Australia, hosted by the Australian Government in close association with the Australian Red Cross and Australian Red Cross Blood Service. The WBDD celebration will take place during the Australian Year of the Blood Donor which aims to enhance awareness of the need for ongoing and increased blood donation as well as the recruitment of new donors.
It is estimated that more than 85 million blood donations are given every year.
About 35% of these are donated in developing and transitional countries where nearly 75% of the world's population lives. The average blood donation rate is more than 16 times higher in developed countries than in developing countries.
Blood is collected in about 8000 blood centres spread all over the world. The average annual blood donation per centre varies from 13 600 in developed countries to 6000 in transitional countries and around 2800 in developing countries.
Voluntary unpaid donors account for 100% of blood supplies in 57 countries. Since the inception of World Blood Donor Day in 2004, 111 countries report an increase in the number of voluntary donations. But in 42 countries, less than 25% of blood supplies come from voluntary unpaid donors.
The average donation rate in developed countries is 38.1 donations per 1000 people. This compares with 7.5 donations per 1000 people in transitional countries and 2.3 donations in developing countries. If 1% to 3% of a country's population donated blood, it would be sufficient to meet the country's needs. But in 73 countries, donation rates are still less than 1%.
Donated blood should always be screened for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis prior to transfusion, but in 41 countries (out of 162 countries reporting in 2007) not all donated blood is tested for one or more of these infections. Testing is not reliable in many countries because of staff shortages, poor quality test kits, irregular supplies, or lack of basic laboratory services.
Separating blood into its various components allows a single unit of blood to benefit several patients and provides the patient only that portion of blood which is needed. About 96% of the blood collected in developed countries, 66% in transitional countries and 40% in developing countries is separated into blood components.
