‘Haemophilia patients need to know about blood safety’

Nagpur: It was way back in 1980s when 17,000 people suffering from genetic blood disease haemophilia contracted HIV/AIDS. This incidence opened the eyes of the medical fraternity towards the importance of blood safety when dealing with people suffering from blood disorders. It also highlighted the fact that patients suffering from such diseases must also have knowledge about it, said infectious diseases specialist Dr Ashwini Tayade.

She was speaking during an event organised by the city chapter of Haemophilia Society of India (HSI) and the state’s Directorate of Health Services on the occasion of World Haemophilia Day recently. BJP MLA Dr Milind Mane was the chief guest of the event. Dr Anju Kadu and Anuradha Sambre of HSI also addressed the patients and their families on the occasion.

“There are chances of diseases like HIV, hepatitis, viral diseases, dengue and malaria being spread through blood transfusion. New infections get added to the list every year. While hospital staffers would be doing their bit to ensure the blood transfusion is safe, it would be great if patients knew a few things about the blood safety protocols,” said Dr Tayade. She said this could help reduce the human error factor that could lead to infections.

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