World Blood Donor Day: Time to commit to new blood relations amid COVID-19 crisis

World Blood Donor Day is celebrated across the world on June 14 every year to raise wider awareness about safe blood donations and to thank those who voluntarily donate blood to save the lives of others. This year's theme for World Blood Donor Day is - 'Safe blood saves lives'

New Delhi:As COVID-19 pandemic cripples India, another major crisis that cannot be overlooked is the lack of availability of safe blood for patients, which is a vital healthcare resource regularly used in treatment on various occasions.

On this June 14, which is annually observed worldwide as World Blood Donor Day, it is pertinent to raise wider awareness on the urgent need to increase the availability of safe blood. The day is celebrated to mark the birthday anniversary of scientist Karl Landsteiner who won the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the ABO blood group system.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has been appealing to voluntary organisations, NGOs and people at large time and again to come forward and donate blood to maintain ample stocks to meet any eventuality in the country.

This year's theme for World Blood Donor Day is - 'Safe blood saves lives' - which is aimed at providing safe blood to the ones in need and calls for action to provide adequate resources and put in place systems and infrastructures to increase blood collection from voluntary, non-remunerated donors, to provide quality donor care and to set up systems for the oversight and surveillance on the whole chain of blood transfusion.

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According to a report published by The Lancet, India has the world's largest shortage of blood, with all states together battling a huge shortfall of 41 million units and demand outstripping supply by over 400 per cent. The demands are rising, mention the report.

An increase of 11.6 million blood donations from voluntary unpaid donors has been reported from 2008 to 2015. In total, 78 countries collect over 90 per cent of their blood supply from voluntary unpaid blood donors; however, 58 countries collect more than 50 per cent of their blood supply from family or replacement or paid donors according to WHO.

According to a study by the ICMR, one out of every 18 births is a thalassemia carrier in Delhi. In Delhi, around 200 births of Thalassaemia major takes place every year. All these patients require repeated and regular blood transfusion (every two to four weeks) and iron chelation therapy for survival.

The average cost per patient is Rs 50,000-Rs 2,00,000 per year, which is bound to increase further with inflation. A thalassaemic child on average requires 30 units of blood every year. All these thalassaemia major births can be completely prevented through awareness/sensitisation and timely screening.

(With inputs from agencies)