Our country requires about 1 million bags of blood annually. Of this, a large part is met through voluntary blood donations. Some are relatives and the truth is that many patients’ relatives still have to fall into the clutches of professional blood donors or blood fraud. However, the hope is that this rate is decreasing day by day.
It is decreasing through regular donations by voluntary blood donors and increasing awareness among people.
Generally, apart from thalassemia, blood is needed for various reasons such as anemia, postpartum hemorrhage, burn patients, major operations, accidents, etc. There is no alternative to blood. Blood has to be given when blood is needed. And that is what voluntary blood donors are doing with spontaneous joy.
Let’s say, a child suffering from thalassemia needs one bag of blood every month. Although some thalassemia patients may need 2 or more bags per month. The countless patients who have to get through the month with the blood of voluntary blood donors. One month has passed, and then another month has to wait.
A voluntary blood donor may have come to the lab one day and donated blood. His blood flows throughout the patient’s body day after day. Not only blood, but humanity also flows in every drop of blood. And when a patient with thalassemia who regularly relies on voluntary blood donors is studying, working, doing business or becoming an entrepreneur, doesn’t the humanity of the blood donor get involved in all those actions? Don’t the voluntary blood donors receive the sincere prayers of those patients? In other words, the donation of a voluntary donor is not just for one day, but continues throughout life.
Any able-bodied person between the ages of 18 and 60 who is physically and mentally healthy can donate blood every four months. Regular blood donation reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke by more than twofold. The donor even benefits from it spiritually and mentally.
Different blood components are needed for different diseases for each patient. This is possible only if the blood components are properly separated in a high-tech machine immediately after blood donation. In this case, the blood donor has to go directly to the lab and donate blood. In advanced labs like the voluntary organization Quantum Foundation, there is a system to separate a bag of blood into 8 components with the help of modern equipment for safe and fast service. Such as- 1. Platelet Concentrate 2. Fresh Plasma 3. Fresh Frozen Plasma 4. Platelet Rich Plasma 5. Platelet Poor Plasma 6. Protein Solution 7. Red Cell Concentrate and 8. Cryo-Precipitate. That means that one bag of blood is being used simultaneously for the needs of several people.
Donate blood regularly in this great initiative like blood donation. Not only blood but life is involved in every drop of blood. Humanity is involved. Today’s regular blood donation is saving lives tomorrow. Greetings to all voluntary blood donors on World Blood Donor Day.
Tuhin Das Tito
Organizer, Quantum Voluntary Blood Donation Program