UAE | Health

Thalassaemia centre braces for annual shortage of blood supplies

The only thalassaemia centre in the UAE is bracing for an annual shortage of blood supplies come summer even as the country hosts the global celebrations of World Blood Donor Day.

  • By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:11 June 4, 2008
  • Gulf News

Dubai: The only thalassaemia centre in the UAE is bracing for an annual shortage of blood supplies come summer even as the country hosts the global celebrations of World Blood Donor Day.

Thalassaemia, a genetic blood disorder affecting five per cent of the local population, is characterised by the breakdown of oxygen-rich blood cells.

Sufferers require frequent blood transfusions to ensure normal development and survival.

World Blood Donor Day celebrations, the first to be held in the UAE and the Arab world on June 14, will be marked by a month-long blood drive campaign and other events.

However, officials at the Dubai Thalassaemia Centre fear the expected surge of blood donations will not be enough for their needs.

"We need more than donated blood [in the blood bank]. We need a continuous supply and donors [we] can call when we need them," said Dr Essam Dohair, haemoglobinopathy specialist at Dubai Thalassaemia Centre.

"Some patients need an exact match because they are receiving lots of blood ... continuously. If they get blood from different donors with different blood [properties], their bodies can develop antibodies, allergies and reject the blood," he added.

He said shortage of blood supplies for their patients usually occur in summer, when UAE residents go overseas to escape the heat, and during the fasting month, which falls in September this year. About 20 patients at the centre, located in the Al Wasl Hospital compound, require exact blood matches.

The Dubai Thalassaemia Centre receives its blood supplies from the Dubai Blood Donation Centre, run by the Department of Health and Medical Services [Dohms].

Other hospitals in the Northern Emirates receive their blood from the Ministry of Health. Doctors treating thalassaemia patients there have also reported similar shortages.

Dr Fatima Sajwani, specialist haematologist at Qasimi Hospital, previously told Gulf News she has had to delay blood transfusions for patients because she could not find an exact blood match for them.

"Sometimes, I have to postpone by a week to wait for a suitable donor," she said. However, Dr Ameen Al Amiri, responsible for Blood Transfusion and Research Services at the Ministry of Health, denied there was a shortage of blood for thalassaemia patients.

"There is no shortage for thalassaemia patients [but] we should always ask for more because of the rate of population increase and more trauma cases," he said.

He added the Sharjah-based centre collected 80,000 units of blood each year, with 32.5 per cent of donors comprising Emiratis.

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