A healthy person isn't necessarily someone looking strong and normal. Only a hospital can tell how healthy one is, this after screening because not all infections manifest outwardly or immediately. Hardly do people in developing countries visit hospitals for check up because to many, looking strong means being healthy. Poverty is also a key factor. For example, in Cameroon, a basic screening for blood group, sickle cell, hepatitis, syphilis, HIV etc costs about thirty five thousand (35.000) Frs, some one's monthly salary.
Amidst this challenge, there's an easy way out. Ignorance they say is a bliss. The way out isn't far, it's simple, it's just near you. Go to any hospital and say you want to donate blood and by the time you are leaving, without paying a dime, your health results will be in your hands. These are findings I made after a one on one with a medic.
 |
| Dr. Ako A. Fidelis (Epidemiologist), Chief of Unit, Bamenda Regional Hospital Blood Bank |
Dr. Ako Atabon Fidelis is an epidemiologist and the Chief of Service at the Bamenda Regional Hospital Blood Bank. Beginning with the functionality of his unit, he explained that they correct anaemia which is the shortage of blood in one's system, caused by accidents, trauma, malnutrition, severe malaria, child birth or chronic kidney disease.
The Cameroon health system has district hospitals, regional hospitals, referral hospitals and parastatals. To Dr. Ako, every health unit that carries out surgical operations must have a blood bank. In the North West Region, blood banks can be found at the regional hospital, Mbingo Baptist hospital, Saint Elizabeth Cardiac Centre Shisong and the Banso Baptist Hospital.
To make a blood donation, the concerned will spend about forty five minutes in the hospital. Upon arrival, he or she is received at the blood bank unit and asked questions about their health statues and behavioural pattern and other medical questions. Afterwards, a clinical evaluation is done during which the potential donor's vital signs are recorded, that is, weight, haemoglobin concentration and blood pressure. If judged fit for donation, from here you are sent to the phlebotomy unit for blood sampling. Phlebotomy is the process of making an incision in a vein with a needle. If all the test results show negative, you are then qualified as safe for donation. When done, you take a rest for about fifteen minutes and that's it. Often, the hospital provides you something to eat, if available.
All of these screening of the donor are done free of charge but somebody will take responsibility and that is the patient. In his words, "We don't sell because blood is life that cannot be costed." Dr. Ako Fidelis went ahead to explain that a patient will pay a maximum of sixteen thousand francs not for the blood but as compensation to the hospital for the screening it carried out on the donor. This amount applies to internal patients, that is those who were diagnosed and found to be in need of blood in the said hospital. However, for external patients, that is those coming in from other hospitals, it will cost them about twenty one thousand francs.
He proceeded to encourage members of the public to make maximum use of this advantage especially would-be couples. Note must be taken that blood donation is restricted only to persons between 18 and 60 years old for females and 18 to 65 years old for males reason being that those below 18 have a still developing blood system while those above the maximum age certainly have weak blood. Blood is being produced in bone marrows before being pumped into the circulatory system whose main engine is the heart.
Every year on 14 June, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD). The event, established in 2004, serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products, and to thank blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving gifts of blood. "We cannot achieve universal health coverage without people coming to make voluntary blood donation" Dr. Ako said. This year's theme of WBDD is, Blood donation and safe blood transfusion as a component of universal health coverage.
Statistically, on busy days, the Bamenda Regional Hospital receives approximately 25-30 donors. Monthly on average, the least number received is 220 and the most, 500 persons. Thus in a year, it's about 4500-5000 donors. Time to know your health statues by using the shortcut of donating blood.
No comments:
Post a Comment