The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has called for people in Latin America and the Caribbean to donate blood, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the contribution of donors is essential.
PAHO Acting Assistant Director Dr. Marcos Espinal says the situation is particularly serious in low and middle-income countries.
PAHO says there was a 20 per cent drop in blood donations in Latin America and the Caribbean during the first year of the pandemic, compared to 2017.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, PAHO said 8.2 million units of blood were collected in 2020, benefitting more than one million people in need of a transfusion.
But it said in many countries demand for blood outstrips supply, and blood services face the challenge of ensuring the availability of safe, quality blood and blood components.
To prevent shortages and ensure safety, PAHO recommends that 100 per cent of blood and blood component donations come from voluntary and regular donors, and that family or friends of patients do not need to be called upon to replenish the life-saving resource.
Yesterday, June 14, was observed as World Blood Donor Day.
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