Blood Donation Systems in Bangladesh: Problems and Remedy

Abstract

Every year patients of various diseases need blood. Among them some need regular transfusion of blood. Hence, safe blood save life but unsafe one takes life. Ensuring regular flow of safe blood is a great challenge for the community in developing countries. Various public and private organizations are working for this purpose. Although the number of blood donor is increasing, there is still a huge gap in demand and supply of blood. A study has conducted to find out problems in getting blood donor in Bangladesh. Data have been collected from 430 respondents in different urban and rural areas of Bangladesh. Moreover, in depth interviews have conducted with hospital authority, blood donating organizations, public and private organizations and volunteers who work for various blood donating organizations. This study finds that patients need blood for delivery case (76%), surgery (55%), kidney diseases (33%), thalassemia (37%) and anemia (41%). About 48% blood seekers report that they require about 19-24 hours for managing each bag of blood. The seekers also report that they collect blood from relatives (77%), blood donating organizations (33%) and blood bank (26%). About 26% donors report that they have to pass more than 6 km for blood donation. They also spend money more than 100 taka (12%) for this purpose. Before and during blood donation, donors face several problems such as transportation problem (38%), coping with emergency case (32%), unskilled staff (29%), health related problem (15%) and lengthy cross checking process (35%). There are a number of people want to donate blood willingly. However, they can't donate due to lack of available communication with blood seekers. Maintaining database of donors, training staffs and using technologies and machines for blood donation process can solve problems in blood donation.