To reduce the hassle of finding blood for patients, the government of Bangladesh is starting a new system called ‘One Blood Network’. This system will also help in producing important blood-based medicines in the country.
Easy Access to Blood Information with Barcodes
Each bag of blood will have a barcode that includes details like the donor’s age, blood group, and expiry date.
Anyone can scan this barcode using a smartphone to see where the blood was used, when it will expire, and who received it. Experts believe this will help stop wastage and illegal trade of blood.
A Digital Network for Donors and Blood Exchange
With help from the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, the network will include:
- A central donor database with volunteer donors’ information
- Mobile blood vans to exchange blood
- National Transfusion Center Hubs in Dhaka and five other cities: Chattogram, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, and Khulna
Find Donors Through USSD Code
Dr. Ashraful Haque, Assistant Professor at Cumilla Medical College Hospital, said that over 3 lakh donors are already in the database.
People can use simple USSD codes like * or # on basic mobile phones to find donors with the needed blood group.
Once found, the donor can be contacted easily via SMS.
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Mobile Vans for Blood Exchange in Major Hospitals
Mobile blood vans will be placed at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and NITOR (National Orthopaedic Hospital). Here, patient’s family members can exchange blood.
For example, if someone needs A positive and they have O positive, they can exchange it with someone else who needs O positive.
Blood-Based Medicine Will Be Produced in Bangladesh
According to Dr. Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, the ‘One Blood Network’ will also help produce blood products in Bangladesh. This includes medicines like:
- Albumin
- Factor-8
- Factor-9
These are made from Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) collected from donated blood. Producing these locally will save thousands of crores of taka, as they won’t need to be imported anymore.
Many Blood Bags Go to Waste Today
Doctors say that extra blood stored in hospitals is often thrown away after 25 days. Dr. Ashraful Haque added that if we use this extra blood to make important products like Albumin and Factor-8, it will save money and meet our own needs.
Health Cards to Encourage Donors
Voluntary blood donors will get a health card valid for four months. Using this card, they and their family members will get some free blood tests at government and selected private hospitals.
Blood Demand and Usage in Bangladesh
Bangladesh needs about 9.5 lakh (950,000) bags of blood every year.
But only 30% of that comes from voluntary donors. The rest comes from family or unknown people. The highest demand for blood comes from:
- Accidents
- Eclampsia and Pre-eclampsia
- Caesarean deliveries
- Dialysis
- Thalassemia patients
This new network is expected to reduce stress, save lives, and make blood donation more organized and effective across the country.
Source: TBS
