Albania continues to struggle with low reserves in blood banks, with just 18,000 donations in the first six months of 2022, in a country with a population of 2.7 million.
The country has long suffered from a shortage of blood donations, a situation which was hampered further by the COVID-19 pandemic as people feared hospitals and clinics. Furthermore, the country does not have adequate facilities to take donations in more rural areas.
Those needing urgent transfusions often rely on family members to donate during an emergency. In 2021, there were just 35,00 donors, not enough to meet the needs of hospitals and thalassemic children.
Kirsto Raca, director of the National Transfusion Centre, told Euronews that the number of donations needs to increase.
“In the first six months of this year, 18,000 blood donations were made at the national level. This figure compared to 3 years ago is higher, but of course, the need for blood increases daily,” said Rraca.
“Out of 18,000 donations, 11,000 were made in the capital and the rest in the districts. In the regions, it is more difficult to campaign.”
Doctors are calling out for citizens to donate, particularly those of an active age and university students.
The donation campaign and the doctors’ appeal go for voluntary donations mainly to active age and university students to donate and become part of such initiatives.
The number of children with Thalassemia, thus requiring weekly blood transfusions, is 600. Family members are mainly filling the gap, although many children are forced to ration blood supplies or go longer than the recommended time frame.
“There are about 600 thalassemic children, and they are in great need of blood. On average, they receive two bags every ten days. Their relatives cannot donate. The blood we receive from volunteers goes to thalassemic children,” a source in the blood transfusion centre said.
You can donate blood at Nene Tereze Hospital 24 hours a day seven days a week, or at the blood transfusion centre at the Trauma Hospital in Laprake, weekdays until 4.
