Safe Blood Starts with Me - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization

SAFE BLOOD STARTS WITH ME – BLOOD SAVES LIVESJapanAltruism starts at homeThe Japanese authoritiessupported World Health Day 2000in many ways, not least inproviding financial and technicalsupport that enabled other, lessfortunate countries to commemorateblood safety as well.Safe Blood Symposium:nucleic acid amplificationtestThe main activity of the Day was asymposium organized in Tokyo on“Safe Blood”. Mr Shoichi Fujimori,President of the Japanese RedCross Society, welcomed thedistinguished speakers. Heproudly noted that, through theclose collaboration of allstakeholders—especiallyvolunteers—100% of the bloodneeded for transfusion has beenobtained from voluntary, nonremuneratedsources since 1974,although this target has yet to bereached for plasma derivedproducts.Japan has a proud history ofkeeping abreast of medicalscience and social needs. Since1997, nucleic acid amplificationtests (NAT) have been used toscreen for hepatitis B and C virusand HIV-1 for source plasma ofplasma derived products, and allvoluntary blood donations are nowscreened before transfusion inthree NAT centres. Today, concernfocuses naturally on the health ofblood donors themselves. Japan’sblood programmes took the theme“Safe Blood Starts With Me” as astart, and continue efforts topromote this message, with thehope that as many people aspossible will think about their ownhealth and realize that donatingblood is an altruistic act.Mr Fujimori paidspecial thanks toDr Brundtland for hermessage for bloodprogrammes in Japan.Dr Omi, Director ofWHO’s Regional Officefor the WesternPacific, recalled hisdays in Dr Mayumi’slaboratory in Japanwhen the PCRtechnique wasintroduced, which hassince progressed from theexperimental stage to becomeroutine for screening, enhancingthe safety of blood transfusions.On the other hand, he lamentedthat most Asian countries still relyon a paid donor system with theconcomitant high risk of posttransfusionHBV, HCV and HIV-1.He hoped that these countriesTokyo NAT Centre and host to memorial meetingmay be able to benefit fromcollaboration with Japan.Dr Nakajima of the Ministry ofHealth and Welfare concurredwith the previous speakers andassured the congregation of thefull cooperation of the JapaneseRed Cross Society in contributingto the improvement of global bloodsafety.107 ▲ WORLD HEALTH DAY ▼ SAFE BLOOD STARTS WITH ME