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• Requests rare and negative blood group individuals to register with the Centre
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, February 12, 2015: Community members in Dubai, especially those who have rare and negative blood groups, are encouraged to register with the Dubai Blood Donation Centre, said a top health official.
Dr Laila Al Shaer, Director of the Blood Donation Centre, at the Dubai Health Authority, said: “ While Dubai is meeting the demand for blood, I would still like to encourage people to put their names in our database so that we can contact them according to the demand and supply. It is important to understand that blood expires every 42 days; platelets (which are needed mainly for cancer patients and those experiencing bleeding due an accident or surgical procedure) expire in just five days. Therefore, we prefer to have regular donors who register with us and who can be contacted depending on the need of the Centre. Of course a certain amount of all blood and platelets are stored but we cannot overstock a product with such a short shelf life.”
Having a database of donors is particularly important for rare blood groups such as O-ve, said Al Shaer. “A person with this blood group can supply blood to all blood groups but an individual with this blood group can only receive O-ve blood.”
She added that Thalassemia patients, as young as six months, need blood every three to four weeks for survival and this adds to the demand for blood.
She added in addition to blood, the Centre needs donors to donate blood products such as platelets which are much needed to save lives. “ Of the products that are collected through a whole blood donation, platelets have the shortest shelf life, just five days. Therefore we need to educate people above the importance of platelet donation. Because platelets are used to treat numerous serious health problems, it can often mean the difference between life and death.”
Al Shaer, said: “You can donate blood every eight weeks, and platelets up to 24 times a year. With each blood donation you can potentially save up to three lives. Regular blood donation takes 15 minutes, while platelet collection takes 45 minutes to one hour. “
The centre has a dedicated phone line ( 04-2193769) for donors interested in platelet donation.
Your diet and blood donation.
Dr Ranjita Sharma, head of medical care unit, said: “Donors can help us make their donation successful by following some simple dietary guidelines related to fatty foods. By eating low fat meals the day before you donate and on the day of donation, you can help obtain better blood and blood products. Donors who eat high fat foods the day before donation and on the day of donation may have an increased amount of lipids (fat) circulating in their blood stream. If the blood collected is extremely lipemic (having an abnormally large amount of lipids), it cannot be used, which is a complete waste of time and resources. Every drop of blood is important because every drop helps save lives.”
Dr Sharma said: “In the last three months, on an average out of 3000 blood units collected every month, approximately 30 units are discarded because of excess fat in the blood. Although this is less than 1 per cent, it can be easily avoided through education and awareness. Sometimes out of the 30 units wasted, some of the units are those belonging to the rare blood groups and it really pains the staff at the Centre when we need to reject this donation.”
She added: “A day before and on the day of blood donation, it's best if donors can avoid fatty foods such as meat with rich gravies, cakes and other baked goods high in fats such as butter, cakes and desserts, whipped cream, creamy soups etc.”
The Blood Donation Centre is accredited by AABB and follows the highest level of quality standards for blood collection, processing and storage.
It is located in the premises of Latifa Hospital and individuals interested to donate blood may contact the centre on 009714 2193221.
Key figures:
Distribution of whole blood units collected in 2014:
Total units of blood collected : 44,350 units
Distribution:
• Thalassemia Centre- 41 per cent. ( 14,752 units)
• Trauma and accident cases 20 per cent ( 7123 units )
• Dubai Hospital( mainly cancer cases) 19 per cent ( 6757 units)
• Private hospitals 11 per cent ( 4285 units)
• Latifa Hospital- maternity and pediatric cases 6 per cent( 2316 units)
• Hatta – 3 per cent (958 units)
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