A noble act

The world celebrates World Blood Donors Day on Saturday to honour and thank all those people who voluntarily donate blood. This should be a special day to pay tribute to all those who, in an act of selfless generosity, give up their time and strength to donate this precious liquid. Through this charitable and unsung act, a vital source of blood is recovered that, hence, determines the lives of numerous patients around the globe.

This occasion should also prove pivotal in raising awareness of the sometimes precarious situations that many blood banks face around the world. The case is especially apt to our situation in Malta. This year should be particularly relevant as we face increasing use while experiencing declining stocks in blood reserves and shortages due to fewer donations.

It is abundantly clear that a well-stocked blood bank is the basis of a successful health service. Blood transfusions are possible because donors step forward to donate blood, sometimes up to four times a year. Unfortunately, blood donations have steadily decreased over the last few years. In fact, between 2003 and to 2007, the number of donations dropped from 16,688 to 14,880. This is a significant decrease of more than 10 per cent overall.

This is quite remarkable due to the fact that, over the last few years, facilities for the donation of blood have been improved and increased. Last year, a new blood donation centre was opened in Guardamangia. Furthermore, there was an increased use of the Blood Donation Mobile Unit. Coupled with all this is the heightened media campaign that is regularly updated.

A further interesting fact that emerges from the official statistics is the poor participation of young people in blood donation. Today, these constitute a mere 10 per cent of blood donors.

Another curious aspect is the donations by gender because the number of male donors is double that of female ones. When one considers that there are over 300,000 eligible donors, the numbers look strikingly poor. This large pool of potential donors could easily resolve this pressing situation.

Research has shown that, many times, rather than a general lack of goodwill in donating blood there are other reasons that prevent completely healthy people from stepping forward and donating blood. This can be surmised from the difference between the enquiries and the actual donations. Invariably, this reluctance stems from lack of proper information about the procedures involved.

Donating one's blood does not decrease one's strength. The human body has automatic and natural mechanisms that regenerate the appropriate levels of blood in the system. A blood donation is usually one unit of blood that equates to 450ml of blood. The average human body has roughly five litres of blood. In particular cases such as complex operations or traffic accidents, seriously-injured patients may require between 40 and 50 units of blood. To complicate matters further, red blood cells have a definite expiry date of 42 days. This clearly reinforces the fact that blood collection is a continual process. In fact, one or two back-to-back accidents may severely deplete the blood provisions in stock to dramatically low levels.

In Malta the number of serious traffic accidents is about 300.

One can, therefore, quickly calculate the challenges of the blood collection service. Maybe more can be done to raise awareness that donating blood is a risk-free procedure. The process is completely controlled and monitored at all times by specially-trained staff with years of experience in this area. The environment is controlled and tailored for the comfort of the donor.

Hence, the act of donating one's blood is a noble gesture. It is done out of a sense of duty and Christian understanding. Unlike some other countries, this is done without any favour or payment. In reality, there is no price for the satisfaction of having helped someone in his\her hour of need. At any rate, that same patient could be any one of us some day. One must also remember that in an emergency there is no substitute whatsoever for human blood.

At present, a media campaign is in progress. In fact, we can see adverts regarding blood donation on this very newspaper on a regular basis. Furthermore, the service has now been extended beyond the usual points of contact. As the mobile unit is out of service, because it is being refurbished, collections are being carried out in clinics, schools and even some hotels.

Should anyone like to find out the monthly schedule, one can visit the interesting Malta National Transfusion Service website at www.health.gov.mt/nbts/mob.htm .