In Somalia, a team of 20 doctors have opened the nation's only public blood bank that serves life-saving donations to most hospitals.

A team of 20 doctors in Somalia opens up the nation's only public blood bank

The pandemic has caused many supply-chain bottlenecks in everyday life, but few are as critical as the United States’ ever-shrinking blood banks. For the American Red Cross, which supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood, and other nonprofit blood centers, the problem lies mostly at the top of the chain: the diminishing number of healthy donors.

“This is the biggest challenge that I’ve seen in my 30 years in the business,” Chris Hrouda, president of biomedical services at the American Red Cross, said in an interview Thursday.

Donations of blood typically decline at this time of year, when holiday parties, wintry weather, seasonal illnesses, travel, and school and college breaks lead to lower donor turnout. But Hrouda said this month’s national supply had dipped to levels that the Red Cross has not seen in 10 years.

“We simply like to keep three days of inventory,” he said. “We’re struggling to keep one day.” Blood takes up to three days to be tested and prepared for patients.

Remote work, blood drive cancellations, and the limits that colleges and businesses have placed on the number of people allowed in public spaces have all reduced donor turnout.

“We just didn’t get as much access as we had hoped for this fall,” Hrouda said.

Compounding the problem, the Red Cross, like many employers, is struggling to attract and retain employees amid the pandemic.

The critical shortage leaves hospitals to more carefully allocate the precious resource. “We have not had to delay any cases yet, but we are very mindful" of what our blood supply is, said Dr. Jennifer Andrews, medical director of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center blood bank in Nashville, Tennessee. Blood donations are essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses and traumatic injuries.

Vanderbilt, the only level-one trauma center in its region, has recalibrated the transfusions it uses to rescue patients — by using fewer red blood cells — to ensure that there is enough for all. “We still think that’s safe, and we know that saves lives,” Andrews said.

Other hospitals have altered treatment for some patients or canceled some patient surgeries, Red Cross officials said.

At Vanderbilt, “an elective surgery put off today is an emergency surgery tomorrow,” Andrews said. The medical staff has held two to three blood drives a month, up from one before the pandemic, to help replenish the center’s supplies, she said. But more is needed.

The nation’s blood supply also faced a critical shortage after March 2020 as the first wave of the coronavirus spread across the country. Blood drives were canceled when businesses closed, and many people — especially older Americans, who have traditionally been the most frequent donors — feared going into donation centers. At that time, the FDA eased some restrictions to help reverse the drastic drop in supply.

“We’ve overcome the fear of any sort of risk associated with a blood drive,” said Hrouda, who noted that the supply had largely bounced back until the delta variant began spreading over the summer. Blood bank directors are hoping that supply will once again catch up to demand.

“Every unit of blood is giving someone life,” Andrews said. “This holiday season, you can give the gift of life.” 
&nbsp;

The pandemic has caused many supply-chain bottlenecks in everyday life, but few are as critical as the United States’ ever-shrinking blood banks. For the American Red Cross, which supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood, and other nonprofit blood centers, the problem lies mostly at the top of the chain: the diminishing number of healthy donors.

The pandemic has caused many supply-chain bottlenecks in everyday life, but few are as critical as the United States’ ever-shrinking blood banks. For the American Red Cross, which supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood, and other nonprofit blood centers, the problem lies mostly at the top of the chain: the diminishing number of healthy donors. “This is the biggest challenge that I’ve seen in my 30 years in the business,” Chris Hrouda, president of biomedical services at the American Red Cross, said in an interview Thursday. Donations of blood typically decline at this time of year, when holiday parties, wintry weather, seasonal illnesses, travel, and school and college breaks lead to lower donor turnout. But Hrouda said this month’s national supply had dipped to levels that the Red Cross has not seen in 10 years. “We simply like to keep three days of inventory,” he said. “We’re struggling to keep one day.” Blood takes up to three days to be tested and prepared for patients. Remote work, blood drive cancellations, and the limits that colleges and businesses have placed on the number of people allowed in public spaces have all reduced donor turnout. “We just didn’t get as much access as we had hoped for this fall,” Hrouda said. Compounding the problem, the Red Cross, like many employers, is struggling to attract and retain employees amid the pandemic. The critical shortage leaves hospitals to more carefully allocate the precious resource. “We have not had to delay any cases yet, but we are very mindful" of what our blood supply is, said Dr. Jennifer Andrews, medical director of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center blood bank in Nashville, Tennessee. Blood donations are essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses and traumatic injuries. Vanderbilt, the only level-one trauma center in its region, has recalibrated the transfusions it uses to rescue patients — by using fewer red blood cells — to ensure that there is enough for all. “We still think that’s safe, and we know that saves lives,” Andrews said. Other hospitals have altered treatment for some patients or canceled some patient surgeries, Red Cross officials said. At Vanderbilt, “an elective surgery put off today is an emergency surgery tomorrow,” Andrews said. The medical staff has held two to three blood drives a month, up from one before the pandemic, to help replenish the center’s supplies, she said. But more is needed. The nation’s blood supply also faced a critical shortage after March 2020 as the first wave of the coronavirus spread across the country. Blood drives were canceled when businesses closed, and many people — especially older Americans, who have traditionally been the most frequent donors — feared going into donation centers. At that time, the FDA eased some restrictions to help reverse the drastic drop in supply. “We’ve overcome the fear of any sort of risk associated with a blood drive,” said Hrouda, who noted that the supply had largely bounced back until the delta variant began spreading over the summer. Blood bank directors are hoping that supply will once again catch up to demand. “Every unit of blood is giving someone life,” Andrews said. “This holiday season, you can give the gift of life.”

US blood banks experiencing biggest shortage in a decade

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ncw-seeks-report-from-tamil-nadu-over-alleged-transfusion-of-hiv-infected-blood-to-women-187542">A 24-year-old woman</a>, who contracted HIV at a government hospital allegedly after being transfused contaminated blood, has given birth to a baby girl here.

The woman had a normal delivery Thursday, Government Rajaji Hospital dean Dr S Shanmughasundaram told PTI, adding that the baby weighed 1.75 kg.

"C-section would have facilitated lesser contact with the mother's blood. But the mother developed labour pain and the delivery happened quickly," he said.

The low birth weight baby is being treated in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit and has been administered medicines for prevention of HIV transmission, the dean said.

A healthy baby weighs between 2.5 kg and 3.5 kg at birth.

HIV screening would be conducted on the 45th day to ascertain whether the child has been infected by the virus, he added.

Last month, the pregnant woman contracted HIV at a government hospital in Sattur in Virudhunagar district allegedly after being transfused contaminated blood supplied by a blood bank.

Following this, the state government ordered an examination of stocks in the state's blood banks.

It was later found that a 19-year old blood donor's infected blood was transfused to the woman. On learning that she had contracted the virus, he consumed rat poison and died on December 30.

Services of three lab technicians of the blood bank attached to the government hospital were terminated.

The incident drew widespread condemnation from opposition parties with the DMK lashing out at the ruling AIADMK, saying it showed how state-run hospitals functioned under the "corrupt government."&nbsp;

A 24-year-old woman, who contracted HIV at a government hospital allegedly after being transfused contaminated blood, has given birth to a baby girl here. The woman had a normal delivery Thursday, Government Rajaji Hospital dean Dr S Shanmughasundaram told PTI, adding that the baby weighed 1.

A 24-year-old woman, who contracted HIV at a government hospital allegedly after being transfused contaminated blood, has given birth to a baby girl here. The woman had a normal delivery Thursday, Government Rajaji Hospital dean Dr S Shanmughasundaram told PTI, adding that the baby weighed 1.75 kg. "C-section would have facilitated lesser contact with the mother's blood. But the mother developed labour pain and the delivery happened quickly," he said. The low birth weight baby is being treated in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit and has been administered medicines for prevention of HIV transmission, the dean said. A healthy baby weighs between 2.5 kg and 3.5 kg at birth. HIV screening would be conducted on the 45th day to ascertain whether the child has been infected by the virus, he added. Last month, the pregnant woman contracted HIV at a government hospital in Sattur in Virudhunagar district allegedly after being transfused contaminated blood supplied by a blood bank. Following this, the state government ordered an examination of stocks in the state's blood banks. It was later found that a 19-year old blood donor's infected blood was transfused to the woman. On learning that she had contracted the virus, he consumed rat poison and died on December 30. Services of three lab technicians of the blood bank attached to the government hospital were terminated. The incident drew widespread condemnation from opposition parties with the DMK lashing out at the ruling AIADMK, saying it showed how state-run hospitals functioned under the "corrupt government."

Tamil Nadu woman who got HIV after blood transfusion delivers baby girl

I have seen people pleading for blood at hospitals, looking for it here and there, calling their friends at the last minute. This, at a time, when they are dealing with the trauma of a loved one being sick. 
 
I can&rsquo;t think of a civilisation that would increase your suffering when you are already weak and trying to cope with that. Then you have the added responsibility of finding blood units. It is one of the most ridiculous experiences of being in a hospital. How could a society, that is so advanced, be so poorly prepared for such eventualities! 
 
Paid donors 
 
Blood donation is an altruistic activity. It should be on a voluntary basis. We don&rsquo;t need anyone to certify this aspect of blood donation, but just to drive home the point even the highest judicial institution of the country says the same. 
 
The reality is quite different. According to a research paper in Asian Journal of Transfusion Science, 50 per cent of blood collection is estimated to be from paid blood sellers and merely 5 per cent of the voluntary donors are repeated donors. 
 
With the severe shortage of blood in Indian hospitals, there is a burgeoning market for buying and selling of blood. Usually people from poor backgrounds such as daily wage earners or construction workers find this as a lucrative way of earning money. 
 
At the same time, people from impoverished sections are at a higher risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis and other diseases. In some of the case studies, it has been observed that first these people start voluntarily as paid donors, risking their health but after a while they are forced by the touts to give their blood. They are unable to get out of this quagmire. 
 
There is a lot missing 
 
Also, in India, the culture of blood donation is lacking immensely. Most of the times, a person would donate blood only when his/her family member is in hospital and he/she is required to replenish the hospital blood bank with the same quantity of blood as used in the treatment. 
 
There are several unlicensed blood banks in the country as well further bolstering this black market. Around 34 per cent of the blood banks in India are unlicensed. Private blood banks are legal as long as they obtain a government licence which comes at Rupees 8,000. 
 
These issues put a big question mark on the quality of blood collected, whether there has been proper check for the infections or not and also, whether the blood collected is from a paid donor or a voluntary donor. 
 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/blood-page-001-20160801080207.jpg" /> 
Contaminated blood 
 
All blood banks in India have to mandatorily test all collected blood units for five transmission infections, including HIV, Hepatitis&ndash;B Virus, Hepatitis-C Virus, Syphilis and Malaria. 
 
Ideally, the banks should be checking for infections, but how many actually do is a different story. The numbers in this regards are not comforting. 
 
In a recent Right to Information (RTI) &nbsp;reply, the National AIDS Control Organisation in India said that in the past 17 months, at least 2,234 people have been infected with HIV while getting blood transfusion. 
 
The number is the highest for Uttar Pradesh where 361 such cases were reported while Gujarat came second with 292 cases, Maharashtra third with 276 and New Delhi stood fourth with 264 such cases. 
 
The National Thalassemia Welfare Society estimates that 6-8 per cent of its own patients contract diseases, including HIV, through transfusions. 
 
In 2013, two thalassemic children died and 21 others were diagnosed with HIV after a single, unlicensed blood bank was found to be transfusing patients without testing in Junagadh, Gujarat, reported the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics. 
 
How other countries handle such situations? 
 
People have been infected in all parts of the world with contaminated blood. The All Party Parliamentary Group for Haemophilia and Contaminated Blood last week published a critical report about the help provided to the thousands infected with Hepatitis C and HIV by contaminated blood during the 1970s and 1980s. 
 
Between 1978 and 1985, more than 1,500 haemophiliacs were infected with the HIV virus in a similar way, most of whom were co-infected with hepatitis C as well. 
 
Many haemophiliacs were infected at the Royal Free hospital&rsquo;s unit and many have since died. Currently, all those infected by Hepatitis C or HIV receive a &pound;20,000 lump sum when they join the payment scheme and if someone progresses to the more serious stage of Hepatitis C they get another &pound;50,000. 
 
In the 1980s, Canada also went through a blood contamination crisis and paid billions of dollars out. Since then the Canadians have taken steps to contain the problem. 
 
No lesson learnt 
 
According to the World Health Organisation, India with a population of 1.2 billion needs 12 million units of blood annually but it collects only 9 million. 
 
There is a deficit of 25 per cent. India has no law under which the police can take penal action against somebody selling blood. 
 
Even though, the Supreme Court in a judgment in 1996 has banned paid donations, the lawmakers have not formulated any blood-related law till now. Beyond that, tens of thousands have been infected and not a dime has been paid in compensation. 
 
Lessons have not been learnt and blood testing continues to stay archaic. Blood testing and stopping contamination may still be a far cry as basic healthcare is still missing. It is shameful for politicians and the medical community to have a failure like this stare them in their face. 
 
&nbsp;

2,234 people have been infected with HIV during blood transfusion in 17 months in India

I have seen people pleading for blood at hospitals, looking for it here and there, calling their friends at the last minute. This, at a time, when they are dealing with the trauma of a loved one being sick. I can’t think of a civilisation that would increase your suffering when you are already weak and trying to cope with that. Then you have the added responsibility of finding blood units. It is one of the most ridiculous experiences of being in a hospital. How could a society, that is so advanced, be so poorly prepared for such eventualities! Paid donors Blood donation is an altruistic activity. It should be on a voluntary basis. We don’t need anyone to certify this aspect of blood donation, but just to drive home the point even the highest judicial institution of the country says the same. The reality is quite different. According to a research paper in Asian Journal of Transfusion Science, 50 per cent of blood collection is estimated to be from paid blood sellers and merely 5 per cent of the voluntary donors are repeated donors. With the severe shortage of blood in Indian hospitals, there is a burgeoning market for buying and selling of blood. Usually people from poor backgrounds such as daily wage earners or construction workers find this as a lucrative way of earning money. At the same time, people from impoverished sections are at a higher risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis and other diseases. In some of the case studies, it has been observed that first these people start voluntarily as paid donors, risking their health but after a while they are forced by the touts to give their blood. They are unable to get out of this quagmire. There is a lot missing Also, in India, the culture of blood donation is lacking immensely. Most of the times, a person would donate blood only when his/her family member is in hospital and he/she is required to replenish the hospital blood bank with the same quantity of blood as used in the treatment. There are several unlicensed blood banks in the country as well further bolstering this black market. Around 34 per cent of the blood banks in India are unlicensed. Private blood banks are legal as long as they obtain a government licence which comes at Rupees 8,000. These issues put a big question mark on the quality of blood collected, whether there has been proper check for the infections or not and also, whether the blood collected is from a paid donor or a voluntary donor. Contaminated blood All blood banks in India have to mandatorily test all collected blood units for five transmission infections, including HIV, Hepatitis–B Virus, Hepatitis-C Virus, Syphilis and Malaria. Ideally, the banks should be checking for infections, but how many actually do is a different story. The numbers in this regards are not comforting. In a recent Right to Information (RTI) reply, the National AIDS Control Organisation in India said that in the past 17 months, at least 2,234 people have been infected with HIV while getting blood transfusion. The number is the highest for Uttar Pradesh where 361 such cases were reported while Gujarat came second with 292 cases, Maharashtra third with 276 and New Delhi stood fourth with 264 such cases. The National Thalassemia Welfare Society estimates that 6-8 per cent of its own patients contract diseases, including HIV, through transfusions. In 2013, two thalassemic children died and 21 others were diagnosed with HIV after a single, unlicensed blood bank was found to be transfusing patients without testing in Junagadh, Gujarat, reported the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics. How other countries handle such situations? People have been infected in all parts of the world with contaminated blood. The All Party Parliamentary Group for Haemophilia and Contaminated Blood last week published a critical report about the help provided to the thousands infected with Hepatitis C and HIV by contaminated blood during the 1970s and 1980s. Between 1978 and 1985, more than 1,500 haemophiliacs were infected with the HIV virus in a similar way, most of whom were co-infected with hepatitis C as well. Many haemophiliacs were infected at the Royal Free hospital’s unit and many have since died. Currently, all those infected by Hepatitis C or HIV receive a £20,000 lump sum when they join the payment scheme and if someone progresses to the more serious stage of Hepatitis C they get another £50,000. In the 1980s, Canada also went through a blood contamination crisis and paid billions of dollars out. Since then the Canadians have taken steps to contain the problem. No lesson learnt According to the World Health Organisation, India with a population of 1.2 billion needs 12 million units of blood annually but it collects only 9 million. There is a deficit of 25 per cent. India has no law under which the police can take penal action against somebody selling blood. Even though, the Supreme Court in a judgment in 1996 has banned paid donations, the lawmakers have not formulated any blood-related law till now. Beyond that, tens of thousands have been infected and not a dime has been paid in compensation. Lessons have not been learnt and blood testing continues to stay archaic. Blood testing and stopping contamination may still be a far cry as basic healthcare is still missing. It is shameful for politicians and the medical community to have a failure like this stare them in their face.

When life-saving blood kills

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