José Adán Silva

MANAGUA, Oct 17 2009 (IPS) – The Nicaraguan Red Cross is conducting an awareness-raising campaign to increase voluntary blood donations and meet hospital demand, in order to compensate for changes in blood collection practices and address a severe health crisis caused by outbreaks of dengue fever, pneumonia and H1N1 influenza.
According to the director of the Red Cross National Blood Centre, René Berríos, blood reserves began to wane in July following changes in blood collection practices. Under the old system, in place since the 1970s, patients undergoing surgery or in need of transfusions were required to have relatives donate a certain amount of blood.

The family members who donated blood would be given vouchers by the Red Cross, to be presented at the hospital on behalf of the patient.

But the new arrangement between the Red Cross and the health ministry ended this practice, because it was found to promote blood trafficking, as poor people would offer themselves as donors to wealthier families in exchange for money, said the national head of the Voluntary Blood Donation Drive, Johely López.

With the new policy that calls for voluntary donors we re not only eliminating the voucher system, so that anyone can have free access to the blood transfusions they need, but we are also fostering social solidarity by encouraging people to donate, López told IPS.

Now the hospital has to cover its patients blood needs and nobody can be required to give blood in exchange for blood, he added.
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But eliminating the old system created a new problem: shortages.

In order to address national health emergencies, the country needs to have a minimum reserve of 1,300 units of packed red blood cells, which is one of the two components (along with serum) separated from donated blood in a centrifuge and stored for use in transfusions.

Berríos explained that for this volume to be available, at least two percent of the country s population of 5.7 million would need to be regular blood donors.

Potential donors must be between the ages of 17 and 65, weigh more than 50 kilos, and be physically healthy and in full possession of their faculties.

Approximately half a litre of blood is drawn from each donor, depending on their weight and age.

López explained that all blood donated is screened for quality and for HIV and other diseases.

The blood is then processed in laboratories and separated into four products platelets, red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and a special liquid used for the treatment of anaemia and other protein deficiencies in patients suffering from haemophilia, malnutrition and cancer.

Demand in Nicaragua is estimated at 60,000 to 70,000 pouches a year, with a projected annual growth of two to five percent.

But when unforeseen emergency situations occur the average demand goes up, which is when special blood drives are needed to replenish stocks, López said.

Of the 75,000 units of blood required this year, some 45,000 had been obtained as of September, after stored donations had dropped below 30,000 in July.

The blood bank reserves for addressing a nationwide emergency fell from 1,000 units to less than 200.

This critical situation prompted a huge awareness-raising campaign called the Caravan for Life , which travelled throughout the country in the months of August and September to encourage young people to become regular blood donors, donating at least twice a year.

With the elimination of replacement or voucher system donors, we need voluntary donors more than ever, so we are calling on young people to support the campaign, appealing to their solidarity, López told IPS.

Nicaragua currently has five blood banks that supply more than 50 hospitals and public health centres throughout the country.

The Red Cross has been providing blood collection and supply services in Nicaragua for 32 years, and its blood bank in Managua is the largest centre for blood drawing and processing in Central America.

The Red Cross is carrying out the campaign with the support of the Adventist church and health ministry personnel.

Berríos explained to IPS that a minimum of 6,000 active donors are required per month to maintain a useful blood supply, which is why the drive is targeting young people, who are in conditions to give blood twice a year.

Alexander Mendieta, 17, told IPS that he was motivated by the Adventist church s call to give blood. Half a litre of my blood can save four people, they say. So this year I m going to save eight, he said.

But not only the young are responding to the call. In August, Julio César Solórzano, 56, became the first Nicaraguan to reach 100 donations.

I never imagined that I could save so many lives just by giving a little of what my body produces, Solórzano told IPS, in between the talks he gives to encourage Managua university students to join the blood effort.

Solórzano is one of the voluntary campaigners recruited by the Red Cross to attract young donors.

According to Red Cross estimates, in 2008 there were 29,000 voucher system donors (non-voluntary) and 31,000 voluntary donors.

That means that 29,000 new voluntary donors are needed this year. As of August, the number of additional donors stood at 10,000.

The National Blood Centre currently covers 80 percent of hospital demand, but more donors are required to address the country s critical health situation, and plans are underway for a new massive blood drive to be held before the end of the year.

Nicaragua is facing a health crisis generated by dengue, pneumonia and A/H1N1 influenza epidemics, which according to health ministry data have affected a combined total of over 20,000 people since the second quarter of 2009.