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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Wanted: More blood donors

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Muscat, August 15 - The number of injuries caused by road accidents in the Sultanate, besides regular medical requirements, has been increasing the focus on blood donation.


Bausher Blood Bank in Muscat put out an advertisement on Tuesday seeking blood donors, prompting many to wonder whether it was because of the road accident that took place the same day.


The blood bank is open from 8 am to 8 pm, except on Fridays when it is open from 2.30 pm to 8 pm.


While many corporate houses and associations take up blood donation as a cause, the demand for the same is constant, making the need to donate regularly even more urgent.


Blood is required for many reasons, said Dr Dilip Singvi.


“Whenever there is excessive loss of blood, the body cannot replenish on its own, as in trauma cases and especially polytrauma, where there are multiple injuries or bleeding in the internal organs. This is an indication of a surgical emergency and we would need urgent replacement of blood that is lost.”


Jaber al Ajmi donates blood regularly. “The idea is to help others. One day, I myself or anyone I know might need help. Besides it’s healthy to donate blood. Ideally, we can donate four times in a year. Of course, one is screened for blood pressure, haemoglobin levels and other criteria.”


The first time Jaber donated was when he was in college. “We arranged a blood donation campaign in our hometown in Saham. I have still continued to donate. The more you know about the benefits of donating, the more you would want to give regularly.”


There are individuals who have come together so they have inspiration and motivation to donate. “Five Minutes of your Time + 350 ml of your Blood = One life saved,” is how Giovanni Pimentel Singum, a blood donor, describes the initiative of donating blood. Kiran Bhaskaran, a regular donor, has not been able to donate blood of late because of a rule that says if one travels to certain countries, there must be a gap of at least 12 months before they can start donating.


“I used to donate blood regularly before. I believe donating blood is good for the hair, skin, nails and in producing new blood.”


One of the benefits of blood donation is that it causes the body to produce new blood cells which leads to good health.


The other benefits, according to organicfacts.net, is prevention of heart and liver ailments caused by iron overload, aiding weight loss and helping prevent cancer.


For many, donating blood is an experience related to college life and often forgotten later.


Another important factor is one should meet the standard eligibility criteria. Blood is also required in cases of elective or planned surgeries in which there is much loss of blood or lesion/rupture of an organ like that of pregnant women’s uterus, where huge amount of blood is lost and urgent replacement is needed, said Dr Singvi.


“Blood transfusions are required in cases of severe anaemia (nutritional or due to a problem arising in the production of haemoglobin) when the HB count is low.


“In other situations, we need to give some components of blood such as platelets when there is a deficiency of this particular factor,” he said.


The most important thing is blood cannot be manufactured.


It has to come from human beings and hence the need to donate blood.


“It is a life-saving medicine. Donating blood is an act of humanity as we are saving each other’s lives,” said Dr Singvi.


Lakshmi Kothaneth


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