There has been a dramatic fall in the number of blood donors in Saudi Arabia a result of social isolation during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Supplies of blood are being depleted.
How can we maintain supplies of blood for transfusion during the Covid-19 pandemic?
This is a global concern. We must conserve the remaining supplies.
We must restrict blood transfusions to the most critical indications. No transfusion above Hb > 7g/dl.
I also recommend screening for and treating nutritional deficiencies, stopping unnecessary blood draws and discussing with hospital laboratory re: using paediatric tubes for all blood samples. Blood draws are a significant cause of iatrogenic anaemia.
There is a limit to what can be achieved with these strategies.
The real question is how can we increase the amount of blood available?
One of the solutions mad by Jazan region Directorate of Health Affairs represented in Laboratory management and blood banks
is to take blood from donors while they in their homes by using prepared medical truck .
Ahmad Hazzazi Thank you for your response. This is a great initiative.
It would be great to hear how effective this is. It may be something to continue after resolution of the pandemic to increase blood supplies.
In Saudi Arabia the lock down has now resulted in depletion of medications. There is no warfarin available. Antimicrobials are in very short supply. Shipping charges have increased significantly. The situation is likely to be similar in other countries.
If medications are depleted mortality from non-Covid disease may be increased.
We must urgently determine which medications are effective for this condition to avoid wastage.
Jes Jose
Thank you for your ideas. These are great. A 24 hour curfew has been initiated in Saudi Arabia and so no donors can attend donation centres. Relatives are not allowed to come to the hospital.
As you and Ahmad Hazzazi suggest if the donors can't come to us we need to go to the donors...
Ahmad Hazzazi Thank your for your response. This article is great for patients with sickle cell disease. However with the tightening of the lockdown in Saudi Arabia the numbers of donors is increasing.
Furthermore there are restrictions on receiving blood donations from people who have recently visited some countries such as Pakistan. Supplies of blood are dwindling...