A campaign under the slogan ‘Save Lives, Donate Blood' was recently launched in Cairo by Merck Sharp Dohme (MSD) company in partnership with VACSERA. The MSD team members donated nearly 100 blood bags supporting almost 300 patients in need. A similar campaign was launched in October last year. “Every three seconds, there is a patient who requires blood, thus there is an urgent need ranging between 2.5 to 3 million bags annually. Tragically, only 60 per cent of the country's needs are met,” stated to Dr Hossam Famy, EgyBlood' Chief Executive Officer. “Although donation campaigns have been organised for many years, the blood donation is still below target however. VACSERA receives daily requests for around 300 blood bags, only 50 per cent of which can be met due to the shortfall in donating blood” he added. “One in every three persons will need blood in the whole lifetime and only 450 millilitres of blood can save as many as four lives. Additionally, many people do not realise the health benefits of giving blood which reinvigorates circulation and helps reduce the risk of heart diseases, as well as the donor having a free medical assessment”, stresses Ramzi Morad, MSD managing director. “Unfortunately, Egyptians still lack the culture and awareness to give blood regularly, although they are very generous in donating money and food,” says Dr Noha el-Sheikh, Head of the Blood Bank Division. Despite blood donations peaking during the January 25 revolution, they dropped again shortly afterwards, she added. Moreover, certain blood type donations are extremely scarce, such as AB and all negative types in general, creating a challenge for patients with such blood types who need blood, stated el-Sheikh, urging healthy people between the ages of 18 to 55 to donate blood regularly – three to four times a year.
