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

During the event, diplomas andT-shirts with the official safe bloodlogo were issued to all 150donors. In addition the officialWHO safe blood pin was awardedto 10 voluntary donors who hadexceeded 50 donations.CreditsSpecial thanks go to all those whosupported us, nationally and fromoverseas, in our efforts to makeblood safe in Nicaragua, but notleast our voluntary, nonremuneratedblood donors. ▲For further information on bloodsafety activities in Nicaragua,contact:Dr Rene Berríos CruzDirector of the National BloodProgrammeNicaraguan Red CrossManaguaTel/Fax: +505 2651 406E-mail: rbc20@ibw.com.niResearch andprogress in bloodproductsTo date, there is no available man-made substitutefor red blood cells. Although considerableprogress has been made in both preventive andcurative blood-derived products, red blood cellsremain a rare commodity.Progress in technology has made it possible toseparate all the components of blood and to storethem at temperatures which are best suited tomaintain their viability. Biotechnology research hasincreased our knowledge and enables some of thedifferent components of blood to be identified andpurified. Research is continuing into new blood-derivedproducts and technologies.Blood tests have become more sophisticated and arefaster and more cost-effective, yet in many countriesblood is still not screened systematically. Moreresources have to be identified and allocated to ensurecontinuous screening programmes. ▲47 ▲ WORLD HEALTH DAY ▼ SAFE BLOOD STARTS WITH ME