Middle East

Rare blood types needed at Dubai Blood Donation Centre

Only 0.6 per cent of UAE population are AB negative, 1.8 per cent are B negative, 2.4 per cent are A negative, and 4 per cent are O negative

Dubai: The Dubai Health Authoritys (DHA) Dubai Blood Donation Centre is calling on the community to donate blood, particularly rare blood types, which are in greater demand.

Dr Mai Raouf, Director of the Dubai Blood Donation Centre revealed that only 0.6 per cent of the UAE population are AB negative, 1.8 per cent are B negative, 2.4 per cent are A negative, and 4 per cent are O negative.

Meanwhile, the O positive blood types are most common and are found in 38.6 per cent of the population.

Dr Raouf pointed out there is a continuous demand for all blood types as blood lasts for only 42 days, resulting in donors being continuously needed to come forward to replenish these stocks.

She added that people can donate blood every eight weeks, with each donation potentially saving up to three lives. Platelets, which can be donated up to 24 times a year, are also important to help cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or those recovering from surgery who have suffered bleeding disorders.

Figures and facts

The Dubai Blood Donation Centre received 33,190 blood donors in the first half of 2018.

Meanwhile, 27,401 blood units and 2,657 platelets were collected through 423 blood donation campaigns in the first half of this year.

Dr Raouf explained that the centre — which is the only donation centre in Dubai — provides around 50 per cent of the total blood collected throughout the country.

“The centre is committed to providing a safe and adequate supply of blood to all DHA hospitals and private hospitals in Dubai, to save the lives of patients who require blood transfusions,” said she said.

Last year, the centre received 64,666 blood donators and collected 50,601 blood units and 5,828 blood platelets through 676 campaigns.

Dr Raouf said 38 per cent of the blood collected was supplied to the Thalassemia Centre, 16 per cent was supplied to Dubai Hospital, 14 per cent was supplied to Rashid Hospital, eight per cent was supplied to Latifa Hospital, three per cent was supplied to Hatta Hospital and 21 per cent was supplied to private sector hospitals.

“The centre also takes part in regular campaigns to collect blood. In fact, DHA received 10,070 blood donors for the annual Dami Le Watani [My blood is for My Country] national campaign, since it was launched in 2012,” said Dr Raouf.

Currently, the customer satisfaction rate at the centre has reached 99.5 per cent.

The application

The Dubai Blood Donation Centre, which has an international accreditation from the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) since 2012, has also introduced the DAMMI App to make it easier to find the time and place to make blood donations in Dubai.

The app allows blood donors to answer donation eligibility questionnaire and read pre-donation educational material through their mobile phones before they come to the donation centre.

The application also allows the public to register their details and be contacted during emergencies and disasters to donate blood, which expands the database for blood donors.

“The app will help avoid human errors and will add an extra layer to transfusion safety,” said Dr Raouf.

The app is available on both apple and android phones.

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