Ariadne Massa
Only five per cent of Maltese donate blood
"I think it would have been easier to collect money than blood."
Barely five per cent of Maltese donate blood and a television presenter discovered this sad statistic when she attempted to raise awareness by inviting personalities - just eight from 50 turned up.
Stephanie Spiteri, a popular presenter, has made raising awareness on blood donations her crusade so she came up with the idea of inviting personalities on her programme Terrazza on TVM.
"I think it would have been easier to collect money than blood. I wasn't expecting this reaction and I was surprised by the number of excuses I heard," she said.
"One person even flatly refused to donate saying, 'It's my blood and I won't give it to anyone'. I feel I have to come forward and encourage people to set aside their fears and become donors," she added.
Ms Spiteri feels it should be every individual's civic duty to donate blood and she was very grateful for those who actually set aside their tight work schedule and accepted her invitation.
"Giving blood is so fulfilling. Every time I donate it feels like I've won the lottery. We all assume somebody else will do it, until one day we may need an operation and it has to be postponed because there is no blood to match our type," she said.
As her appeal coincides with the month when the feast of the patron saint of blood banks, St Januarius, is celebrated, she is encouraging personalities to lead by example.
Alex Aquilina, consultant and medical doctor at the National Blood Transfusion Service, believes fear is the major hurdle that stops people from donating blood.
"Their fear is very real, but others simply don't find the time, while others still are either on medication and suffer from some form of illness," he said.
However, Dr Aquilina is encouraged by the fact that this year the NBTS had experienced a 16 per cent increase in blood donations over last year's figure of 14,500. The NBTS reports that over 300,000 people in Malta can donate blood, but barely five per cent do so, and those who do, do it out of a sense of duty because they know it can save lives.
An average of 40 to 50 blood bags are used up every day, which clearly highlights the urgency of donations, especially when traffic accidents, such as those of the past days, occur - one or two serious accidents are enough to drain stocks.
The facts
How much blood is taken during a blood donation?
Approximately 450 millilitres of blood is collected during a blood donation.
How long does it take for my body to replace the donation?
Your body will replace the liquid part of the donation within 24 hours. Red cells usually need at least eight weeks for complete replacement.
How long after blood donation should a donor avoid strenuous activity?
Donors should avoid strenuous activity for about six to eight hours after donating blood.
How old should I be to donate blood?
To donate blood you have to be 18 years old. New donors aged 60 are not accepted. However, regular donors are allowed to donate blood until 65. Seventeen-year-olds are allowed to donate with their parent's/guardian's written consent.
Is there a weight limit?
Yes there is, the minimum requirement is 50 kilograms.
Can I get AIDS from donating blood?
No. You cannot get AIDS or any other disease by giving blood. The materials used for your donation are new, sterile, disposable and are used only once for your donation.
Can persons who suffer from high blood pressure donate blood?
Persons with controlled "high" blood pressure with diuretics (i.e. pills that cause one to pass a lot of urine) can donate blood but if they are taking other medication or the high blood pressure is not controlled, they cannot donate blood.
Can persons who have a high level of cholesterol donate blood?
Persons with high cholesterol controlled by diet or statins (a group of drugs to lower cholesterol levels) can donate blood. Persons taking other medication to control cholesterol levels cannot donate blood.
Can asthmatic persons donate blood?
Asthmatics who are not on treatment can donate, but those on treatment cannot. However, there are some exceptions which may depend on the severity of the case.
Can foreigners donate blood?
No, however, non-Maltese residents with a Maltese identity card are allowed. Identity cards ending in P or A are allowed to donate blood if they have been living in Malta for at least six months.
Is it true that blood is being sold to private hospitals?
Blood is never sold. It is estimated that to process, screen and make blood available to patients it costs the blood bank about €105 per unit of blood. Currently there are no charges to private hospitals for this service.
Is it true that patients in private hospitals are preferred to patients in the state hospitals when it comes to receiving blood, because they pay for it?
On occasions when there is a shortage of blood, blood is given to the patients mostly in need. On rare occasions, non-urgent (elective) operations may be postponed.
Where should I phone if I have any concerns?
Call on 2206 6201 or 7930 7307.
Source: www.health.gov.mt/nbts
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In Discussion
15 Comments
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Derek Steele
Sep 9th 2008, 18:26
@Chris Ripard:- Just to clarify the 6/7 minutes is the time taken for the donation itself ,not travel to and fro ,resting etc.
Vincent Buttigieg
Sep 9th 2008, 17:45
To Chris Ripard. Congratulations for your very long act of humanity. Yours is the type of record that will never make it into the Guinness but the human benefit derived out of it is unmeasurable anyway.
Please note that I am sure of the time used up by myself as well. Of course, I mentioned that I am registered as a Donor at Gozo Hospital. Maybe that makes a difference.
Congratulations to you and all the other donors anyway!
Julian Brincat
Sep 9th 2008, 17:21
insomma due to the high intake of alcohol and drugs in Maltese youth this may be a good thing! Do drugs and alcohol affect your sample?
Chris Ripard
Sep 9th 2008, 16:00
@Derek Steele and Vincent Buttigieg. Firstly, well done for donating.
What I can't understand are the miraculously short times you mention: the process, including travel there/back, check-up, post donation resting etc. always took a couple of hours in my case.
As I say, I've done it for 30 years now, so I'm pretty sure what I'm saying.
Vincent Buttigieg
Sep 9th 2008, 15:27
I am honoured to be part of the 5% minority who donate blood. I go regularly every 3 months to the Gozo Hospital donation centre. Total time employed each time I go is just 40 minutes. Pain is nil. Courtesy of the staff is great.
Maybe this comment may encourage those who are undecided whether to donate blood or not to go for this act of great charity and love towards ALL our neighbours.
SIMON ZAMMIT
Sep 9th 2008, 14:40
OMG THIS IS MALTA KATTOLICISSIMA???
Andrea Pullicino
Sep 9th 2008, 12:20
Unfortunately due to very the very restrictive eligibility criteria (and rightly so) probably only 1 third of those 300,000 people can donate blood. The blood donation unit goes through great effort and expense to visit companies and localities to make donating easier however many times this effort does not seem to pay as much as it should. When they visited my workplace, out of about 30 people wishing to donate only a handful were able and many (like myself) went back to their desks feeling very disappointed. Many times being able to donate or not is a matter of timing (women and people who travel frequently to blacklisted countries know this quite well) so maybe we need to be looking into ways of overcoming this issue by having some form of database with the relevant info and a reminder scheme. At least if one is not able to donate on his first attempt he would be reminded when the best time to try again would be.
Chris Ripard
Sep 9th 2008, 12:12
I stand to be corrected, but I believe that Government/Parastatal employees are allowed to donate during working hours - at least , it is tolerated. This is a good thing, but it discrimates vs those like me who work in private industry and who either have to take leave or reduce their free time accordingly.
If the Centre want donations, they should level the playing field first. My bet is donations will rise considerably if they do.
Nonetheless, I have been donating for over 30 years now, despite the relative difficulty.
Miriam Kelly
Sep 9th 2008, 12:12
I am Maltese living abroad but visit Malta regularly and some years ago went to the mobile unit in B'Bugia to give blood but after waiting for quite a long time in a queue, I was told that my blood would not be used as I live abroad. I used to donate regularly in Malta before moving abroad and was a regular donor here in Edinburgh as well so why was my blood not good enough?
Derek Steele
Sep 9th 2008, 12:10
@R.Azzopardi:- It is a fact that certain sexual practices and also intravenous drug use can increase possibility of blood borne infections/diseases being passed on to the recipient of the donation.
R Azzopardi
Sep 9th 2008, 11:54
One should note that many people are barred from donating blood because of their sexual orientation. I think this is appalling and unbelievable!
Mark Fleri
Sep 9th 2008, 11:54
Several months ago I tried giving blood only to be rejected because I was born in the UK. I have lived in Malta for 9 years, my ID card ends with the letter 'L', and my parents are both of Maltese orgin. The doctor stated that since I was not Maltese they could not take my blood. The National Blood Transfusion Service should not complain that they don't have enough blood if they are not willing to accept other people from outside of Malta.
Marcello Savona
Sep 9th 2008, 11:26
Add this:
Can a person who spent more than 6 months in the UK, in 1998 donate blood... Answer that they will give you when you go to donate blood is no!
So why is it not listed in the facts....
mary constable
Sep 9th 2008, 10:46
Come on Malta & Gozo! As a person in the medical profession I was apalled at the small and insignificant amount of blood donors on the Maltese Islands, I feel there must be plenty of young fit and able people in both vacinities, not only does it make you feel proud of helping a worthy cause, but also twice you get a free health check by helping your fellow countrymen.
Come on Malta! it's time you woke up and smelt the coffee and questioned yourselves, how would you feel if you needed a transfusion and alas no blood of your type available to improve your situation/ or save your life? They are not called "Blood Banks" for nothing ! and overdrafts are not always available!!!!
Derek Steele (Wales)
Sep 9th 2008, 10:25
As someone who has been donating blood for more than 40 years I would urge all Maltese and Gozitans who qualify to donate.There is no pain involved and a good feeling that one has helped ones fellow citizens in a unique way.What could be better than to have helped to save someones life??I have never suffered ill effects after donation,and I don't know anyone who has.Donor needles are once only use and come in sterile packs so cross infection should never be an issue!!The donation process takes on average 6/7minutes and is painless.Just imagine a scenario whereby one of your loved ones required a lifesaving transfusion and no suitable supplies were available,shouldn't the Maltese and Gozitans be questioning their moral conscience??