Use of blood from professional donors down

Use of blood from relatives increased from 15 per cent to 57 per cent while that of volunteers from 10 per cent to 26 per cent.

Nilphamari civil surgeon (CS) Dr Abdur Rahim disclosed this at a workshop held at his conference room on Thursday. Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS), a renowned NGO, organised the workshop while its project co-ordinator Anthony D'cruze graced the programme.

It was possible following introduction of a mandatory blood screening programme jointly initiated by the government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 2000, the CS said. The programme was aimed at ensuring safe blood transfusion to recipients, he said.

The CS further said 29 per cent professional donors suffer from Hepatitis-B, 22 per cent from syphilis and six per cent from Hepatitis-C.

It was not mandatory to screen blood in either government or non-government hospitals before launching of the programme.

Hospital sources said blood transfusion is required for surgical operations, treatment of anemia and recovery of rapid loss of blood after accidents.

In Bangladesh, over 3.75 lakh units of blood are required annually. At present, about two lakh units of blood can be screened from blood transfusion centres including 53 district hospitals. The World Health Organiation (WHO) provides training and technical support and helps install equipment. There are blood banks and reference laboratories in the centres.

Dr Abdul Mazid, In-charge of blood transfusion centre of Nilphamari district hospital said the aim of the project is not only to ensure blood screening in a proper manner but also to create low risk donor group. Cent per cent voluntary blood donation is the goal of the programme, he said.

RDRS director (Community health) Dr Selina Rahman said her organisation is assisting the government to enhance awareness among people and conducting motivational campaign for voluntary blood donation. 'Accessibility to safe blood is people's right,' she said.

RDRS co-ordinator (Social empowerment) Liaqat Ali Khan said his organisation will form voluntary blood donor group comprising 1,000 eligible officers, staff and group members of village federation (local people's body).

Physicians and nurses of government hospitals, blood transfusion technicians, local elite and journalists were present at the workshop.