Pledge to donate blood for thalassemia this World Blood Donor's day
The pandemic has taught us to value life and its most precious liquid - blood. With lockdowns and widespread fear about catching the virus, blood banks have been slowly drying up around the country, leaving those dependent on blood donations, severely distraught. Hence, World Blood Donor Day this year, is more important than ever before. The slogan adopted this year is “Give blood and keep the world beating”, to applaud those who donate blood on a regular basis, saving lives and working to improve the health of others in the process. It also urges people, especially the younger generation to donate blood regularly.
The WHO lists out the aims of World Blood Donor Day on its website, “to raise global awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion and of the critical contribution voluntary, unpaid blood donors make to national health systems. The day also provides an opportunity to call to action governments and national health authorities to provide adequate resources and put in place systems and infrastructures to increase the collection of blood from voluntary donors.”
It is common knowledge that any healthy individual between the ages of 18 and 60 can donate blood, periodically every three months. Each unit of blood can save up to three lives, further increasing the value of one person’s donation. Blood is often required for patients of accidents, critical surgeries, certain illnesses and in cases where plasma is needed in the body. However, one group of patients that need blood on an urgent and long-term basis are those suffering from Thalassemia Major. A rare genetic blood disorder, Thalassemia affects the human body’s ability to make hemoglobin from red blood cells. A shortage of this vital life-force results in failure of multiple organs, leading to eventual death. Thalassemia occurs largely in two forms – Minor and Major – presenting no symptoms in the case of the former, but requiring constant care in the latter. Thalassemia Major is the result of two mutated Thalassemia Minor genes combining, which happens only when both parents are carriers.
At present, the sole cure for Thalassemia Major, is expensive and risky bone marrow transplantation, which works only for a handful of people when they find ideal donor matches. In the absence of that, they must receive regular blood transfusions to inject healthy red blood cells in their systems, every two-three weeks. Unfortunately, with the pandemic, blood has become a rare and extremely valuable commodity, leaving many Thalassemics in the lurch.
“Blood is not a product that can be bought or manufactured. By donating it, you’re sharing a life – giving the person who will receive it a chance to live,” says Nanni Singh, CEO of ShowCase Events and parent to a Thalassemic. Ever since her son’s diagnosis, she has been actively and closely involved with Thalassemics India – an NGO that works towards spreading awareness on this deadly disease. The organization operates in close association with doctors, state and central governments, hospitals, and other Thalassemia associations and centers to achieve its purpose.
Under its many activities, Thalassemics India organizes regular blood donation camps in association with the Indian Red Cross Society, and also runs a Thalassemia screening center. Numerous social media campaigns, some of which are helmed by Bollywood biggies like Jackie Shroff, are underway to encourage people to get their Thalassemia status tested. This is the safest way of preventing the birth of more Thalassemic babies. The cost involved in the regular management of this disease is very high, and many people cannot afford it. Thalassemics India steps in to help such cases by providing funds for their treatment.
“With our concerted efforts, awareness about the disease has increased, but there are still so many people in India who know nothing about it. That complete awareness will happen only when every pregnant woman in the country will ask to be checked for a test that will alert her to the Thalassemia status of the child. We are a long way from that,” says Shobha Tuli, Secretary of Thalassemics India.
A couple of months ago, a new series of Webinars was initiated by Thalassemics India to help patients and their family members, stay connected with the latest advancements in this field. Entitled ‘Updates on Thalassemia’, this virtual series takes place once a month and is organized exclusively by Nanni Singh and her team at ShowCase Events, who have wholeheartedly supported this cause through the years. The first webinar was on ‘Recent Advances in Thalassemia’, and the second was on ‘Challenges in the Day to Day Management of Thalassemia’. A panel of experts were brought in to answer all queries and especially those relating to the pandemic’s effects on Thalassemia.
With India being home to the largest number of Thalassemia Major patients, this World Blood Donor Day, our populace must pledge to put aside any reservations and donate blood freely, so that our country can manage this grave problem once and for all. Deepak Chopra, President, Thalassemics India urges everyone to, “please come forward and donate blood!”
About the author
The author is a lawyer who contributes lifestyle articles to various publications. She can be reached on nooranand@gmail.com.
