The Institute states that for a long time they have not used the method of publicly calling citizens to donate blood.
"This kind of blood donor gathering is unfavorable on many grounds, first because it is a family-specific donation of blood, and because at certain moments it creates problems in the work of the service," announced the Institute to “Vijesti”.
Family, or the deliberate donation of blood, involves the provision of blood for a particular patient. This type of donation of blood, according to the Institute, does not exist in developed countries and the World Health Organization's recommendation is that each state has a 100% voluntary donation.
"Recently, there were complaints that many citizens reacted to, so it happened that donors visit us in the late evening hours as they saw on social networks that blood was urgently needed."
They add that they have a precisely defined plan of organizing actions by weeks and months, in a way that will not endanger stable stocks of blood.
"In the event of a shortage of blood, the Institute has clearly defined protocols that aim at the urgent care of patients at no time at all. These protocols include calling blood donors who have left their contact in case of need, contacting partners who are able to organize themselves in the short term, as well as public appeals to citizens to donate blood."
Blood is most often given in Niksic, Kotor, and Podgorica
The Blood Transfusion Institute organizes three voluntary blood donation campaigns throughout the week at the state level. Their statistics show that blood donation is not on the same level in all parts of Montenegro.
"The best response of voluntary blood donors is in Niksic, Kotor and Podgorica. In these areas, the percentage of donations is higher than the national average," said the Institute.
At the end of 2017, the percentage of voluntary blood donations in Montenegro was 2.9 percent. At the end of the year, the Institute expects this percentage to reach a value of three percent.
Who can give blood?
Blood can be given by any healthy person aged 18 to 65 years.
Pre-donation preparation means that the provider is healthy and rested, that the night before the donation they slept for at least six hours. Before the donation, a light meal and fluid intake is recommended.
When arriving at the donation site, the first thing the donor needs to do is to complete the Questionnaire on eligibility for giving the blood. It is important, for the sake of their own and the patient's safety, to approach the questionnaire honestly and seriously.
Following this step, a blood donor registration, as well as a check of the value of hemoglobin, blood pressure, and pulse, as well as blood groups, are carried out. A general medical examination is followed, after which is the very act of giving blood, which lasts up to five minutes. The whole procedure of voluntary blood donation lasts about 30 minutes.
After the donation, serious physical activity should be avoided.
There is no danger for the blood donor
When donating blood, the donor is 100 percent safe, and there is no possibility of transmitting the infection in the blood itself, according to the Montenegrin Blood Transfusion Institute.
"Less adverse reactions to donations can occur if we do not abide by training or behavioral advice after giving blood, or that we have not notified medical personnel about important issues," they add.
There are benefits for the donor
"In addition to feeling that we have helped somebody, blood donation provides the donor the possibility of checking the health status and acts in favor of the donor himself. By coming to the Institution, the donor checks his state of health, this includes checking the blood type, hemoglobin values, body weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and complete medical examination. Blood donation gently stimulates the bone marrow that produces new, young blood cells that contribute to better oxygenation of the whole organism," added the Institute.
According to the Law on Health Insurance and the Labor Law, voluntary blood donors have various benefits related to the right to a day off work, free of charge right for the participation fee in the public health care services, and others.
Text by Rada Brajovic, on October 14th 2018, read more at Vijesti
