Summer slump in blood donations

Dubai Every few minutes someone needs a blood transfusion in Dubai because of a traffic accident, a heart operation, complications during birth or treatment for cancer

There is a huge demand for blood and staff at the Blood Donation Centre at Al Wasl Hospital are kept on their toes as requests from various hospitals keep coming.

The body needs blood as it carries oxygen and other nutrients to all parts of the body. It fights infections and helps heal wounds. It is needed to sustain the lives of those who have lost blood due to accidents or whose blood functions are damaged due to illness.

"You save a life by giving your blood," says Dr Laila Al Shair, head of the centre.

She allays the fears of people who feel that donating blood will harm them in some way.

"A human body has about five to six litres of blood and donating a pint won't affect you at all," she says.

Loyal donors

The centre is lucky to have loyal donors such as Alex Mathew, who comes all the way from Sharjah whenever there is an urgent need for blood. He has been donating blood twice a month since 1992.

Dr Al Shair has about 60,000 donors in her database whom she can call at a moment's notice.

"You can easily donate blood four times a year," she says.

The centre does not pay for the blood and it is all voluntary.

Dubai earlier paid blood donors Dh200 but that was stopped after a Federal Law stopped the payments.

"It was done to stop people from donating blood just for the money," she says. But donors are appreciated and are given certificates and trophies.

Collection at this centre is about 50 per cent of the total blood collected across the UAE ever year. The Dubai Centre takes in 35,000 units of blood annually. (One unit of blood equals 450ml, which is just under a pint). The other centres are in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. In a few years the doctor expects the demand for blood to increase to 250 units daily and jump to 60,000 units every year.

"Dubai needs more because there are more health providers here," says the doctor.

Maintaining stock

But every summer she struggles to maintain the stock of blood as many leave the country for their annual holidays and during Ramadan, when people feel they will become even weaker as they fast during daylight hours.

The centre will soon run campaigns during Ramadan for blood donations which will be carried out after Iftar, the breaking of the fast. "Our instructions to donors are simple," says Dr Al Shair. "Avoid eating junk food, eat a good meal, drink plenty of water, no oily stuff, eat plenty of vegetables and get a good night's sleep."

During Ramadan (which is expected to start on August 11) Muslims fast from early dawn to sunset. The centre also plans to extend its reach and set up mobile clinics at various hospitals and clinics so donors do not have to travel all the way to Al Wasl Hospital.

Before donating blood there is a questionnaire to be filled in which asks whether the donor has had a body piercing or a tattoo recently and whether he or she has diabetes. This is done to exclude those with contaminated blood.

The centre has an advanced lab which screens out various viruses, but still the donated blood is not used immediately because of a "window period" for certain infections to show up, said the doctor.

For those still worried about donating blood, here are some comforting facts: the body replaces white blood cells within 24 hours, plasma within 48 to 72 hours and red blood cells are completely replaced in four to six weeks.

Process: The mechanism of transfusion

The most common blood group is O Positive, says the doctor. About 50 per cent of the population here has this blood group. The other common groups are O Negative and A and B. In case of life-threatening situations, the last three blood groups can be transfused to those with O Positive blood.

Once you donate a unit it will be processed into red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma and cryoprecipitate. The plasma is used for burn patients, the cryoprecipitate for people undergoing chemotherapy and the red blood cells for thalassaemia patients and anaemics.

Have you ever donated blood? What do you think can be done to encourage blood donation across the country?