Donor blood is a chance for life
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Every year, thanks to donated blood, millions of people get another chance, and WHO called for an increase in the number of volunteers who are willing to donate their blood for the life of another person.
WHO Director-General Margaret Chan noted that in order to obtain the necessary blood reserves, it is necessary to attract a greater number of voluntary donors willing to provide their blood to save the life of another person for free.
Many patients, thanks to donated blood, not only receive the opportunity to significantly improve the quality of life, but also the chance to live longer.
In addition, the necessary blood supplies in hospitals make it possible to make complex surgical interventions, to save the lives of women in labor and pregnant women, as well as victims of various natural disasters (for example, earthquakes, complicated births, etc.).
Severe bleeding in pregnant women, parturients during childbirth or after childbirth is the most common cause of death of women (in 2013, about 30% of pregnant women and parturient women died due to bleeding).
Recently, the amount of blood donated is increasing, in countries with a medium and low standard of living, the available blood supplies are not enough for all who need it, and blood services have some problems, both with the creation of the necessary blood stock, and with ensuring its quality and safety.
In 2012, out of the total number of donated blood collected in the world, approximately 50% was from developed countries with a high standard of living, in which less than 20% of the total population lives.
The health organization notes that the blood needs of thousands of people can provide only 10 donors, but more than seventy countries have declared that they are not able to make even a minimal stock of blood.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of people who are willing to donate their blood for free and in 73 countries you can get the necessary blood supplies only from such donors. But WHO notes that work needs to be continued, as in 72 countries only relatives or on a paid basis provide blood donors.
According to WHO, the safest blood of the proper quality can only be obtained from voluntary donors.
One WHO specialist, Hernan Montenegro, noted that the voluntary surrender of blood allows safe and complete blood supplies, regardless of the standard of living of the country. To ensure all the needs for blood and improve access to this type of treatment, it is necessary to enlist as many citizens as possible in the ranks of voluntary blood donors.
Blood transfusion is sometimes the only possible option to save lives. But in a number of countries there is unequal access to this service because of insufficient reserves.
For each country, the main thrust of health policy should be to provide the necessary high quality blood supplies, and WHO has provided recommendations and is ready to provide technical assistance to all countries that need support, and which it is important to develop national blood donation systems on a voluntary basis.
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