BHARATI PAWASKAR
He is 22, just out of university and already a regular blood donor for over a year. He was planning to donate blood for the fifth time on this World Donor’s Day, on June 14. It’s been five times since this 50 kg collegian with O +ve blood group has donated blood at the government run blood bank at Hospicio Hospital in Margao. However, just like most of us who are not much aware about blood donation, he too didn’t know about the frequency at which blood should be donated and hence, kept donating blood after every three months for over a year. A universal donor with O RH +ve blood group, Rohit feels that as blood cannot be manufactured artificially and is available only in a human body, all those who can, should donate blood.
“It’s the best gift anyone can ever offer,” believes Rohit whose spirits dampened to know the actual frequency with which he could donate blood, at his age and weight. His family doctor Dr Sanjay S P Khope advised him to donate blood every six months and not every three months. So he has to wait for another three months before he could donate next.
Rohit’s motive was simple and sincere - to donate blood at regular intervals so that some unknown person gets access to this life-saving gift in times of crises. Only, he didn’t know the facts about blood donation.
Like Rohit, there are many who are ignorant of the facts about blood donation. Some of us are scared to donate blood, fearing that it may not get replenished or we may feel feeble and faint. However, as we celebrate World Blood Donor’s Day, let’s break the myths enveloping blood, the most vital fluid in the bodies of all living beings which keeps us alive and kicking.
Who may require blood and why and who can donate it?
Every few seconds, someone, somewhere, needs blood for some reason or the other. We are aware that transfusions of blood and blood products save millions of lives every year. There are occasions where transfusion of blood may be required. If there is excessive and unstoppable bleeding during childbirth, a woman may need blood transfusion to save her life. Children or adults suffering from malnutrition and anaemia, patients with blood and bone marrow disorders, inherited disorders of haemoglobin and immune deficiency conditions, victims of trauma, emergencies, disasters and accidents as well as patients undergoing surgical procedures may require blood transfusions.
“Overall there is a lot of misunderstanding, myths and phobias regarding donation blood, still prevalent in our society,” states Kumud Sardesai, a retired employee of Goa Medical College and Hospital’s blood bank. Working here as Blood Donor Organiser during 1975 to 85, Sardesai was instrumental in motivating thousands of adults between the age group 18-55 to donate blood voluntarily. Visiting colleges, institutions, factories and offices, she educated laymen about the blood donation process.
Sardesai briefs, “Any healthy person, male or female, can donate blood. He/she must not be suffering from any infection or ailment. The person who donates blood must have a good level of HB (haemoglobin), which is 12 for women, and 14 for men. In our times we used to draw 225 ml blood at a time while the bottle (earlier there were glass containers to store blood) already contained 75 ml solution so total blood in the bottle was 300 ml,” recalls Sardesai. She adds that a human body contains approximate 5.5 litres of blood and withdrawing 225 ml does not make much difference, as the requirement of the body is around 3 litres of blood in circulation.
At any given point of time, the blood bank must store ample amount of stock of all blood groups, to serve in the emergencies, she points out. The stored blood can be used until 21 days and if not used, is discarded.
Septuagenarian Sardesai opines that there is need to wipe out the fear psychosis and phobias that have hijacked people’s minds which prevent them of even thinking of donating blood. This can be done by explaining the facts, clearing their doubts and sharing of experiences by donors so that people are not reluctant to donate blood. There are procedures and tests before blood donation, and the blood thus acquired is not directly transfused into the receiver’s body, without undergoing further tests. So it is totally safe to donate or to receive blood.
The theme of this year’s campaign is blood donation and universal access to safe blood transfusion, as a component of achieving universal health coverage. The theme strongly encourages more people all over the world to become blood donors and donate blood regularly “ actions which are key to building a strong foundation of sustainable national blood supplies that are sufficient to meeting the needs of all patients requiring transfusion.
The host country for World Blood Donor Day 2019 is Rwanda. The global event will be held in Kigali, Rwanda on 14 June 2019.
