As many as a million children in the country suffer from thalassaemia. Efforts must be made to raise awareness about precautions and to encourage people to donate blood, said Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF) Vice Chancellor Zakir Hussain while speaking at a seminar on Wednesday.
The seminar, titled Importance of Blood Donation and Establishment of Blood Donors Society of the GCUF, was arranged by the Directorate of Medical Sciences and Directorate of Students Affairs at Hashmat Hall.
Dean Naureen Aziz Qureshi, Medical Sciences Director Riaz Hussain Dab, Students Affairs Director Nadeem Sohail, Dr Rafia Imtiaz and Dr Muhammad Asif Saleem also spoke on the occasion.
Dr Hussain said the university would try to provide all possible resources for the project. He said the blood donated by students would help children suffering from the disease.
As much as 450 ml of blood could save as many as three lives, he said. As much as 450 ml of blood could save as many as three lives, he said.
Prof Dab said that the directorate had arranged many awareness programmes on various diseases including dengue fever.
Dr Rafia said that a potential blood donor must have a good night’s sleep, light meal, and be mentally prepared. They should be between 18 and 60 years of age, weigh more than 50kg; men must have a haemoglobin level greater than 12 g/dl and women 12.5 g/dl.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2013.