Safe Blood Starts with Me - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization
Safe Blood Starts with Me - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization
Safe Blood Starts with Me - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization
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<strong>Blood</strong> represents eight per cent ofbody weight, and a person <strong>with</strong>average height and weight carriesblood <strong>with</strong> 25 billion red bloodcells. WHO statistics were cited <strong>int</strong>he press to show that half amillion women die each year frompregnancy-related causes, manydue to lack of blood. Dr Al Jowdertold the media that healthy adultscan handle losing 20 per cent oftheir blood and that the averageamount of blood being pumpedthrough the heart is five litres perminute.Combining religion andhealth: a truly outstandingachievementTraditionally, the 10th day of theIslamic New Year is a time whenMoslems make themselves bleed,<strong>with</strong> a view to sharing the agony ofthe murder of the son of theprophet. With tremendous supportfrom the media, new legislationwas passed whereby those <strong>who</strong>wish to pay homage in this wayshould do so at the local bloodbank. In this way, Shee’etMoslems have successfullyretained an important element oftheir culture as well as ensuringthat many others in need willbenefit from the gesture. This ideahas been proposed in othercountries, but has only beensuccessfully implemented inBahrain. A success story worthcopying.ConclusionThe urgency to develop safe andeffective blood transfusionservices has been highlighted bythe serious threat of infection byHIV and hepatitis B viruses. Of the33 million HIV/AIDS patientsworldwide, five per cent arereported to have contracted thevirus through blood transfusion.<strong>World</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Day 2000 on <strong>Safe</strong><strong>Blood</strong> provided Bahrain <strong>with</strong> atimely opportunity to bring thishome to its people. The nationalhealth authorities spotlighted, onthe one hand, the need torecognize those <strong>who</strong> support safeblood initiatives and, on the other,the need to increase voluntary,non-remunerated blood donation.The Arab <strong>Health</strong> Ministers Councilhas established a <strong>Blood</strong> TransfusionScientific ConsultancyCommittee and formulated aholistic plan to increase awarenessof the key issues in thisfield. ▲For further information on bloodsafety activities in Bahrain, contact:Mrs Fakhreyya Ali DarwishSupervisor <strong>Me</strong>dical TechnologistSalmaniya <strong>Me</strong>dical ComplexCentral <strong>Blood</strong> BankMinistry of <strong>Health</strong>Government of BahrainP.O. Box 12, ManamaTel: +973 289 454Fax: +973 289 46752 ▲ WORLD HEALTH DAY ▼ SAFE BLOOD STARTS WITH ME
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