WASHINGTON, CMC – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Wednesday noted that demand exceeds supply in many region countries. It highlighted the importance of regular, voluntary blood and plasma donation to ensure countries maintain a safe and sustainable supply.
PAHO joined the international community in observing World Blood Donor Day under the theme “Donate blood, donate plasma, share life, share often.”
PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, who is in Barbados attending the inaugural three-day SIDS ministerial conference on non-communicable disease (NCD) and mental health, in a message expressed his deep gratitude to all blood donors in the Americas for their invaluable contribution to giving life to those who need it most.
He said each blood and plasma donation is a valuable gift, essential to maintaining an adequate supply.
“The availability of blood or plasma affects all patients, especially those who need lifelong transfusion support or receive transfusions periodically,” said Dr. Barbosa, noting that this is the case for patients with sickle cell anemia or thalassemia or those with other chronic conditions, such as hemophilia, oncology patients or immuno-suppressed patients.
According to the latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2021, in Latin America and the Caribbean, the average blood donation rate per 1,000 inhabitants was 15 units. However, some countries fell below the WHO-recommended minimum of 10 units.
The PAHO director warned that “demand exceeds supply in many countries of our Region, and blood services, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, face the challenge of ensuring access to safe and quality blood.”
WHO has also highlighted the need to increase plasma donations obtained through blood extraction in many countries to ensure an adequate supply of plasma proteins for patients. This is crucial for treating various serious diseases, such as hemophilia, immune disorders, infections, and severe disorders.
However, plasma shortages in many low- and middle-income countries limit the adequate treatment of patients. Globally, just 44 countries, six in Latin America and the Caribbean, use donated plasma to produce plasma derivatives such as immunoglobulins and clotting factors, considered essential medicines by WHO.
“We need more people across our region to become lifesavers by volunteering to give blood or plasma regularly,” Dr. Barbosa said.
PAHO said that transfusion of blood components is essential for both children and adults in treating various diseases and medical disorders, saving lives, and improving quality of life.
It said it continues to work closely with countries of the region to address the challenges related to the availability and quality of blood and blood components. This includes the development of efficient and integrated blood services in health systems, as well as the promotion of voluntary and non-remunerated donations.
The development of strategies for health surveillance, hemovigilance, risk management, monitoring, and evaluation is crucial to understand national challenges and the particular needs of each country, PAHO added.
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