Blood bank seeks more initiative from donors

The increase in traffic accidents during the summer put pressure on blood stocks in the emirate but volunteer donors helped fill the shortfall, the head of the Blood Donation Centre said. The blood inventory at the Dubai Centre depends on donors who give blood regularly. "Donors are not paid so to improve blood safety, and we avoid people donating blood just driven by the payment incentive," said Dr Laila Al Shaer, Head of the Dubai Blood Donation Centre. She said the demand for blood has gone up recently with the increase in the number of health providers, which increases the need for blood. "Donating once is not enough. You can easily donate blood every three months," said the doctor, noting that the red blood cells get replenished in the body within 57 days. The blood stock at the centre is usually stretched to the limit during summer when most people go abroad for the holidays leaving fewer donors in the city. This year Ramadan and summer came at the same time putting even more pressure on the centre. Trauma patients Because of the pressure, appointments of thalassemia patients who require blood transfusions every three weeks, were rescheduled on some occassions as trauma patients were given first priority, the doctor said. "We cannot predict how much blood is needed for the Trauma Centre, but the Donor Centre needs 150 units every day to keep the stock stable and meet the demand and serve the 27 health providers in the centre's database, including the Trauma Centre in Rashid Hospital and the Thalassemia Centre in Al Wasl Hospital," said Dr Laila. Despite the low number of donors, the centre managed to collect 2,722 units of blood during Ramadan, slightly up from the same period last year. Up to 75 per cent of collected blood was thanks to campaigns held outside the centre in collaboration with various institutes in Dubai through its mobile unit, which went around the emirate during the month of fasting, said the doctor. Dr Laila said the centre was very active in the community through social media to call individuals for blood donation whenever shortages are expected.