A blood donation mobile unit, which, in the words of the Health Ministry, has become an important source of blood collection, has been out of service for a number of weeks. When, with very good reason, those responsible for the blood transfusion centre never tire of calling for blood donations, it is a shame that the service has had to be stopped for so long pending repairs to the vehicle’s chassis.
It is common practice in Malta for maintenance problems to be handled casually. Things that are broken down are often seen to so inefficiently it is only when they are publicised in newspapers or on the social media they finally come to get the attention they need. Repairs to the blood donation mobile unit’s chassis may have been taken up in no time after the problem arose but it would seem that, in this case, the job is, for some reason, taking far too long to be done.
According to the Health Ministry, the vehicle should now be in service again in mid-January.
The mobile unit is particularly useful as it makes it easier for groups of people in localities far away from the main donation centres to donate blood. The ministry’s website indicates that more than 3,000 units of blood a year, a significant volume, are collected by the mobile unit.
However, quite strangely, when the unit was out of action for three whole months in the first half of last year, when its driver was “indisposed”, the director of the blood transfusion centre had downplayed the importance of the service. Although the administrators felt the unit definitely helped, it was not considered “critical” to blood collection. It was felt that the mobile unit was more useful for “exposure and visibility” of the service.
There is no question that the mobile unit helps spread the message of the importance of blood donations. However, going by the figure of blood donations collected, as given in the Health Ministry’s website, it does seem that, if the unit was not considered “critical” to blood collection last year it may be now.
It has been explained that, in cases where the unit is not available for use, alternative blood donation activities are held, including “remote sessions” in hotels, banks and even factories. This is well and good but, clearly, the usefulness of a mobile unit is unquestionable and every effort should be made to keep the vehicle in good service.
Also, why should Malta have just one such vehicle? When the availability of a constant supply of blood saves lives, it is expected that the government would logically ensure that the blood transfusion service is strengthened to be able to run without hiccups.
It is ironic that no contingency plans are in place to deal with ‘accidents’ the mobile unit might encounter, including mechanical faults. Saving lives through blood donations must remain at the top of any priority list of health services requiring attention, just like ensuring hospitals and health centres are able to continue to function.
Having to stop the mobile collection service when the vehicle’s driver is indisposed or because of a damaged chassis does not make sense. Once the experiment had been an unqualified success, having another mobile unit and more drivers would be money well spent.
This is a Times of Malta print editorial