The World Health Organisation (WHO) urged people in Pakistan on Saturday to donate blood voluntarily, highlighting an annual shortfall of 2.3 million blood donations in the country.
“This shortage is affecting hospitals’ ability to save lives,” WHO stated, as World Blood Donor Day approaches on June 14.
This year’s World Blood Donor Day theme is “One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives,” emphasising that donating blood is a gesture of human solidarity that can save up to three lives with just one donation.
WHO estimates that Pakistan needs over five million blood donations each year to fulfill healthcare requirements, but currently, it only receives about 2.7 million donations annually.
The organisation pointed out that only 18 percent of donations are voluntary and unpaid, while the other 82 percent come from family or replacement donors.
“Voluntary blood donors are public health heroes,” commented WHO Representative in Pakistan, Dr. Luo Dapeng.
“On World Blood Donor Day, WHO honors the millions of voluntary, unpaid blood donors whose kindness saves lives daily in Pakistan and around the globe.”
He added that no patient should die due to a lack of blood, noting that despite advancements in medical science, hospitals and healthcare professionals cannot save lives without sufficient blood supplies and public support through donations.
WHO stressed that blood transfusions are vital for treating pregnancy-related bleeding, severe childhood anemia, bleeding disorders, infectious diseases, cancers, and other chronic illnesses.
They are also crucial for complex surgeries, emergency care, and situations arising from disasters and conflicts.
The organisation further called on governments and health authorities to improve national blood systems by encouraging voluntary donations, ensuring fair access to blood, and implementing safe transfusion practices.
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