Seminar on 'Rational Use of Blood' held in Dhaka

Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation organised a seminar on the 'Rational Use of Blood' at Sagor Runi Auditorium in Dhaka Reporter's Unity recently. The purpose of the seminar was to increase awareness among medical professionals, patients, blood donors and common people on the unnecessary and irrational use of blood that is prevalent in our country.

Dr. Md. Abdur Rahim, Secretary General of Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation said, "Though blood supply is insufficient all over the country, there are many instances where blood is used without any proper indication, blood that could potentially be used to save more lives."

In the keynote speech, Prof. Dr. Manzur Morshed, an eminent hematologist and advisor to Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation, said blood transfusion should be used with much caution as it has many harmful side effects. He said, "We should decide to give blood to a patient, only when we are certain that the benefit will outweigh the harm".

Contrary to popular belief, Dr. Morshed urged that blood transfusion from close relatives should be avoided. He illustrated few real-life cases where giving blood from close relatives resulted in death due to transfusion-associated graft versus host disease, a fatal complication of blood transfusion.