Letter to LPOs -June edition-English version Dear Local Public Health Officers, Welcome to letter to LPOs, June Edition. The date of 14 June is the birthday of Karl Landsteiner (18681943), an Austrian biologist and physician, considered to be the founder of modern blood transfusion. Landsteiner discovered the ABO blood groups in 1901, developed the modern system of classification of blood groups, and identified, in 1937, together with Alexander S. Wiener, the Rhesus factor, thus enabling physicians to transfuse blood without endangering a patient’s life. That’s why the World Blood Donor Day is being observed on June 14, 2014 with renewed commitment. The occasion raises awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products, as well as thanking voluntary blood donors for their donations. Every year 107 million blood donations are collected worldwide. Approximately half of these are collected in high-income countries, home to only 15% of the world’s population. In low-income countries, up to 65% of blood transfusions are given to children under 5 years of age; whereas in high-income countries, the most frequently transfused patient group is over 65 years of age, accounting for up to 76% of all transfusions. The focus for this year’s World Blood Donor Day campaign is Safe blood for saving mothers. And why is that? Currently, 73 countries collect more than 90% of their blood supply from voluntary unpaid blood donors (38 are high-income countries, 26 middle-income countries and 9 low-income countries) •
Even with excellent care in pregnancy and monitoring during labor, it is not possible to predict or detect every complication in time to prevent a life-threatening bleed
c/o WMA B.P, 63,01212 Ferney-Voltaire CDEX –FRANCE
Tel. +33 (450) 04 47 59
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Women are critical to the country's blood supply, since their role as caregivers sends a message that donating blood is the right thing to do. However, they are also more likely than men to be temporarily restricted from donating because of low hematocrit, or red blood cell levels if they are still menstruating. When you hemorrhage, this is an emergency situation. As a result of this bleeding, you can become severely anemic. Without a transfusion to replace the blood you have lost, you could die. A hemorrhage can happen:
− Early in pregnancy if you have an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage; − After 24 weeks of pregnancy (ante partum hemorrhage); − During birth (intrapartum hemorrhage); − Immediately after birth (postpartum hemorrhage). •
According to the World Health Organization, 800 women die every day from pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. Severe bleeding is the cause of 34% of maternal deaths in Africa, 31% in Asia and 21% in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Latest Stocks and Statistics Here's where you can find out exactly how much blood we've got in our blood banks at the moment: Current stock levels
c/o WMA B.P, 63,01212 Ferney-Voltaire CDEX –FRANCE
Tel. +33 (450) 04 47 59
Fax. +33 (450) 40 59 37
www.ifmsa.org
Current days stock
Current total stock
Campaign essentials:
• http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/112768/1/WHO_World-BloodDonor-Day_2014.1_eng.pdf?ua=1 •
Information about blood transfusion, pregnancy and birth:
c/o WMA B.P, 63,01212 Ferney-Voltaire CDEX –FRANCE
Tel. +33 (450) 04 47 59
Fax. +33 (450) 40 59 37
www.ifmsa.org
http://www.rcog.org.uk/files/rcogcorp/Blood%20Transfusion,%20Pregnancy%20and%20Birth.pdf •
Information about blood donation:
http://www.blood.co.uk/index.aspx Looking forward to seeing your actions Orange Hugs, Marwa Daly
Development Assistant On Publications And Marketing of SCOPH for the term 2013-2014 References: http://www.who.int/
c/o WMA B.P, 63,01212 Ferney-Voltaire CDEX –FRANCE
Tel. +33 (450) 04 47 59
Fax. +33 (450) 40 59 37
www.ifmsa.org