Blood platelet donors wanted

Dubai hopes to keep special blood platelet supply running smoothly even after encouraging paid donors to become unpaid volunteers by 2020, said a senior health official.

Asma Ali Zain

Published: Thu 13 Jun 2013, 9:38 AM

Last updated: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 6:45 PM

Women in UAE fight heart disease

A total of 4,450 women across the region fought the battle against heart disease during the region-wide roll out of the ‘Go Red for Women’ campaign that was held recently.

In the UAE, heart health tests were conducted over three weekends at Mall of the Emirates, Deira City Centre and Mirdif City Centre in Dubai and Ajman City Centre and Sharjah City Centre in the Northern Emirates.

Medical professionals conducted several tests to check blood pressure, blood sugar, Body Mass Index (BMI), and cholesterol in addition to quick health consultations.

‘Go Red for Women,’ founded by American Heart Association, is a global movement against cardiovascular diseases (CVD) — the leading cause of death amongst women.

According to Associate Professor at the Institute of Public Health and Head of the CVD Prevention Group at Emirates Cardiac Society Dr Cother Hajat, three times the number of women die every year because of CVD, compared to breast cancer and 64 per cent of them who die of a heart attack were unaware that they had CVD. Consultant Cardiologist at Dubai Hospital and Board Member of the Emirates Cardiac Society and World Heart Federation Dr Nooshin Bazargani said: “Policy makers have a big role in fighting heart diseases and it would be more effective with the support of private organisations.

“One-third of women, who screened in our previous initiative back in 2010, had at least one risk factor for heart disease, which they were not aware of. With regular health screenings, we can prevent the disease more and manage its complications better.” - news@khaleejtimes.com

Ahead of World Blood Donor Day tomorrow, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called upon all countries to obtain 100 per cent of their supplies of blood and blood products from voluntary, unpaid blood donors by 2020. In 2011, the UAE met WHO’s target for the collection of whole blood which is now 100 per cent donated by unpaid volunteers.

“We want to change the idea of paid donation and gradually want to encourage voluntary donations on the special collection of blood platelets,” said Dr Laila Al Shaer, Director of the Dubai Blood Donation Centre (DBDC) at the Dubai Health Authority.

“We want to tell them that blood is a gift of life and should be given voluntarily,” she added.

Currently, the DBDC pays each blood platelet donor Dh200 for six doses but not before he/she has registered in the centre’s schedule database, has been a voluntary whole-blood donor and meets the eligibility criteria. Nearly 200 volunteers, mostly paid, are registered for platelet donations while 15-20 units are needed daily to meet the need. “These volunteers can donate again within three weeks,” she added.

“People need to understand that blood expires every 42 days; platelets (which are needed mainly for cancer patients and those experiencing bleeding due to an accident or surgical procedure) expire in just seven days,” said Dr Al Shaer.

“Of course, a certain amount of all blood and platelets are stored but we cannot overstock a product with such a short shelf life.” According to WHO, 60 countries collect 100 per cent of their blood supply from voluntary unpaid blood donors (35 are high-income countries, 18 middle-income countries and seven low-income countries). Six of these countries have achieved this target from a percentage lower than 75 per cent reported in 2004 including the UAE (from 59 per cent).

Blood collection from voluntary non-remunerated blood donors is the safest while more voluntary blood donors are needed to meet the increasing needs and to improve access to this life-saving therapy, says WHO.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com