Kathmandu, Apr. 7:The UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, in a message on World Health Day, said “Each year, blood transfusions save millions of lives. ”
“They are an essential component of the health-care system. The theme for this year’s World Health Day- “Safe Blood Starts With Me- Blood Saves Lives”- is a timely reminder of the importance of an accessible safe blood supply for the world’s people,” the UN chief stated.
The safety of blood transfusion continues to be a critical problem in many parts of the world. Technologioal advances have led to substantial improvements in industrial countries, but progress in developing countries has lagged behind. World Health Day 2000 draws our attention to the avoidable deaths that result from a lack of safe blood supply, he observed.
“Current estimates suggest that each year about 13 million units of untested blood are transfused. The women, children and poor people of the developing world are particularly susceptible to infections transmitted through transfusion. Although considerable progress has been made much remains to be done to ensure global blood safety,” the Secretary-General added.
Of the 191 World Health Organisation member States, only 43 per cent systematically screen donors’ blood for Hepatitis B and C and HIV, and 29 per cent have national policies and plans to ensure blood safety. Blood safety must be a key element of national health systems, he pointed out.
The World Health Organisation is working to promote the safety, quality, adequacy and appropriate use of blood. All sections of society from the highest levels of government to individual blood donors must be involved, he said.
“On this World Health Day 2000 let us commit ourselves to the goal of making safe blood supplies available to every patient who needs them, wherever he or she may live. We should see this as one of the essential services to which every human being is entitled,” Kofi Annan stated.
Similarly, Dr. Uton Muchtar Rafei, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region, on the occasion of World Health Day said, “The first World Health Day in this new century is dedicated by WHO to safe blood. Blood is perhaps the most precious life resource, a vital defence mechanism and the essential carrier of oxygen needed by the human body. Severe reduction or blood through an accident or illness can be life threatening, necessitating a blood transfusion.”
Globally, there is deep concern about the growing problem of infections like HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, syphilis and malaria induced by blood transfusion. Only by ensuring safe blood can their incidence be reduced and the people protected, he stated.
“Overall, while most developed countries have been able to secure blood safety, developing countries, including those in our Region are still at varying stages of ensuring the supply of safe blood,” he pointed out. For most countries there is an urgent need to develop national strategies for safe blood transfusion and to ensure their efficient implementation, he said.
An important strategy would be to replace all professional blood donors with regular, voluntary blood donors. At the same time, rigorous screening of all donated blood must be made mandatory. It is also important that blood transfusion is prescribed only when essential. Only rational use of available blood can ensure the supply of safe blood, Dr. Rafei said.
This year’s World Health Day slogan, “Safe blood starts with me”, is very relevant to our Region. It is a solemn reminder that any one can need blood transfusion any day. It is vital that together we ensure the availability of adequate supplies of safe blood, he said.
There is still no substitute available for red blood cells. We continue to rely on human blood and must ensure that it is safe. “Nations must implement rational and stringent policies for blood transfusion. At the same time all of us, as healthy citizens must donate our blood, regularly. Each one of us can offer this precious gift of life to those in need. We must make a start, today,” the WHO Regional Director observed.