In Chattogram city, medical emergencies often force families into desperate searches for blood for life-saving transfusions.
Shahedul Azam, whose wife recently underwent a C-section at a private hospital, shared this harrowing reality.
"Doctors urgently requested two units of blood for immediate transfusion. We only managed to secure one unit," he said.
A friend then informed him about the Fatema Begum Red Crescent Blood Bank in Anderkilla. "I approached the officials, describing my situation, and they confirmed having blood of the same group in stock. It was a moment of profound relief," Shahedul added.
Shahedul's predicament is not unique. In Chattogram city, only a few blood banks facilitate voluntary blood donation, with Fatema Begum Red Crescent Blood Bank, managed by the Red Crescent Society, playing a vital role among them.
Dr Mezbah Uddin, in charge of the blood bank, said the blood supply primarily comes from their dedicated members and students through regular, year-round donation drives.
This strong foundation of volunteerism ensures that the blood is distributed to patients free of charge, he said.
However, to guarantee absolute patient safety, a nominal fee is collected from recipients, covering essential screening processes for diseases like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, malaria, syphilis, and HIV.
"We orchestrate year-round voluntary blood donation programmes, collecting between 40-50 units of blood from each drive and around 13,000 units of blood annually," said Shyamoli Baidya, a medical technologist at the blood bank.
Sadia Hasan, the organisation's finance officer, said, "We offer a special concession in screening charges for our thalassemia patients. For extremely poor patients, we provide blood completely free of charge."
However, the Red Crescent faces a significant, yet avoidable, challenge: over 10 percent of their collected blood is wasted annually due to a lack of awareness among patients' families.
"According to standard guidelines, whole blood can be safely transfused within 30 days after collection, and fresh frozen plasma can be stored and used for up to one year. Yet, many patients' families insist on receiving only 'fresh' blood – ideally collected on the very same day, or at best, two to three days earlier," Shyamoli said.
"That's why over 10 percent of the blood we collect every year is wasted due to expiry of shelf life," she added.
There is an urgent need for raising public awareness against misconceptions about blood storage and transfusion standards to ensure every precious unit serves its intended purpose in saving lives, said Dr Mezbah.
