UAE | Health
Awareness drives 'key to blood donation success'
Community involvement is key in energising people to donate blood in the UAE, says a top official, as the World Health Organisation praises the country for achieving almost 100 per cent in blood donation.
- By Nina MuslimStaff Reporter
- Published: 23:54 June 22, 2008
Dubai: Community involvement is key in energising people to donate blood in the UAE, says a top official, as the World Health Organisation praises the country for achieving almost 100 per cent in blood donation.
The WHO highlighted the UAE and China as success stories for their ability to replenish blood supplies through unpaid blood donations, thus reducing the risk of blood-borne disease, as part of World Blood Donor Day celebrations. Many countries, including those in Latin America and the Caribbean, still partly rely on blood given in exchange for money.
Dr Ameen Al Amiri, CEO of Licensing and head of Blood Transfusion Services at the Ministry of Health, told Gulf News the UAE's success was due to its aggressive awareness campaigns.
"We work very hard and the population of the UAE is very understanding. We make it easy for people to donate blood. We go to universities, offices, schools with our mobile blood donation units," he said, noting blood donation awareness is taught at schools.
Essential
According to the WHO, 97.6 per cent of blood supplies in the UAE is from voluntary blood donations. Voluntary blood donation is essential for a country's healthcare as it reduces the risk of disease transmission. Blood donors who are paid or pressured to donate by their family are more likely to hide risky behaviours from blood bank personnel, for fear of not getting paid or facing stigma from their relatives.
The UAE collected 80,000 units of blood in 2007 and expect to see the amount grow by 11 to 12 per cent this year. More than 30,000 are registered as regular blood donors with Emiratis contributing the most blood to the country's blood supplies, followed by Indians, other Arab nationals, southeast Asians and Europeans.
Despite the high rate of blood donation in the UAE, a recent Gulf News website poll found 80 per cent of 4,333 readers said they had never donated blood. Not all respondents lived in the UAE.
Dr Al Amiri said the poll highlighted the importance of continuing awareness of voluntary blood donation and warned against complacence.
"We need more people to donate blood because there is an increase in need; there are more road accidents, we're building more hospitals and the population is growing," he said.
Healthy heart
Studies have suggested donating blood can reduce the risk of heart disease possibly because it removes excess iron in the blood.
A study of 2,682 men in Finland reported in the September 1998 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology found men who donated blood at least once a year had an 88 per cent lower risk of heart attacks than non-donors. Another study published in the August 1997 issue of Heart found that men who donated blood were less likely than non-donors to show signs of cardiovascular disease.
Healthy adults can donate once every three months, or five times a year at the most. Before donating blood, potential donors are asked their medical and travel history, to ensure they are not at risk of any diseases. Some who have been in malaria-infested areas less than six months before are discouraged from donating blood.
Why do you think people do not donate blood? Is it a lack of empathy or awareness? How do you think the habit can be encouraged? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com or fill in the form bellow to send your comments.
Your comments
We should have blood donation camps in each area at least one or twice a year. Many people are ready to donate blood, but are shy or lazy or are not able to reach hospitals because of convenience. If we have blood camps in each area, I am sure you will find a positive response.
Violet
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 23, 2008, 08:14
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