Need for blood donors

There is an interesting booklet about the work of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, written by the British author Malcolm Muggeridge, which bears the catchy title "Something beautiful for God".

Indeed, Mother Teresa accomplished much that was truly beautiful for God; not only in her numerous acts of generosity, but during the entire course of her life, which was dedicated to the assistance of the sick and the dying. Her actions were a wonderful and unique witness of her love for the Lord and his creatures.

However, youngsters and healthy adults in this country can also do something beautiful for God. It is something they can do without much fuss or toil, perhaps over and over again during their lifetime, and which would be particularly appropriate during the season of Lent.

I am talking about donating blood, which, if correctly motivated, is nothing other than a highly commendable and genuine act of Christian charity.

It is a harmless act which may be highly beneficial both to the giver and the receiver; as Shakespeare said: "It is twice blessed; it blesseth him that gives and him that takes".

The process of human blood donation has been essential medicinal practice for the last two centuries. The process today, of course, is a far cry from the pioneering attempt of the French doctor, Jean Baptist Denis, in the 17th century when he attempted to infuse sheep's blood into a human being thus performing the first blood-transfusion recorded in history.

Almost all the early attempts failed miserably, even when blood was obtained from a human donor because the recipients very often died on account of blood-type incompatibility.

More recent experiments after the discovery of blood typology were crowned with almost 100 per cent success. The risk of the transmission of viral hepatitis and HIV, which can lead to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), was almost eliminated after the introduction in the 1980s of tests which screen donated blood or its components from antigens.

There are some people who, for religious reasons, do not consent to undergo transfusion of natural blood products. In such cases, since the 1970s substitutes such as synthetic blood have been administered. But the usual practice in our country is to have blood transfusions whenever they are needed provided that there are no counter-indications against them.

Hospitals and clinics all over the world use human blood that has been collected and stored in so-called blood banks. However, the possibility of transfusing blood directly from the donor to the patient can never be ruled out, particularly where there is an urgent need.

Needless to say, it is a well known fact that blood transfusion effected in one way or another has saved the lives of thousands of people suffering from different kinds of haemorrhage, internal or external, as well numerous blood diseases.

But perhaps not everyone is aware that, even in our islands, there is a constant demand for more blood to be donated to people badly in need of it.

Sometimes the call is very urgent and donors prepared to volunteer to meet the needs are very welcome. The Blood Bank in Malta was set up in 1968 by the Maltese Branch of the Sovereign Military Order of St John with the cooperation of the Chapter of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mdina.

However, not everyone can donate blood. There are some people who are excluded from giving blood because they are themselves carriers of chronic diseases or because of old age. But even they can play their part by making a blood donation in a symbolic way, by encouraging and urging others who are eligible to be generous with their neighbour.

It is a clear sign of a kind heart and solidarity when we see men and women from all walks of life flocking to healthcare centres to give their blood to someone who needs it.

What are you waiting for?