Conspiracy to cripple State blood bank bared

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

COLOMBO: A conspiracy to create a long lasting blood shortage in Sri Lanka was revealed by the National Blood Centre (NBTC), Colombo yesterday.

The main component of this conspiracy is a media campaign to discredit the NBTC, launched by a popular private television channel assisted by some forces including certain elements with vested interests, Director, National Blood Bank, Dr. Mangalika Bindusara said.

It was also pointed out that this situation would affect war heroes who need urgent blood transfusions.

Addressing the media during a special press briefing, Dr. Bindusara said as a result of this media campaign the NBTC in Colombo 5 is totally deserted without a single donor.

“The entire place is empty. Before the media campaign there was a large crowd in the Centre to donate blood all the time. They were volunteers who wanted to serve the country and its people. But now they don’t come any more,” she said.

She alleged that the Karagampitiya mobile service which contributed in a significant way to collect blood was also sabotaged by the same forces. As a result there is a possibility of Sri Lanka experiencing a blood shortage in the future when the present stocks finish.

According to Dr. Bindusara the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) of Sri Lanka has been weakened by a well organised media campaign launched by certain print and electronic media.

The Government is about to bring `National Blood Act’ in order to streamline the National Blood Transfusion Service. The main intention of this Act is make free blood available for patients who obtain treatment from state and private health institutions.

“Private blood banks are not happy with this idea because when the Act is enacted they will not be able to collect and sell blood. They may be a part of this well organised campaign.”

Dr. Bindusara said that these media institutions started to project an inaccurate and false picture of the National Blood Transfusion Centre creating a huge misunderstanding among the public. This discouraged all loyal volunteer blood donors. They aired some photographs and voice cuts given by certain forces with hidden intentions.

She stressed that Sri Lanka’s NBTS and the NBTC are the best in South East Asia and the staff is well trained.

The doctors are well qualified and very dedicated. The techniques used in the centre to obtain and store blood are globally recognised and recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry always extends its support to the NBTC and the NBTS.

Outdated blood or blood products are not given to patients. Such blood products and the blood tested positive for HIV and other diseases are destroyed regularly following accurate and recommended techniques in order to ensure public safety.

It was also revealed that although media start to request blood from the public as soon as an incident happens the NBTC or the NBTS never makes such requests from media because blood cannot be taken from one person and given to another within a short period of time.

The bank needs to take blood, test them and store in order to use when required. It is not possible to get blood and donate to another instantly as projected by mass media. It is only a myth. What should be encouraged is donating blood regularly.

A.A.Daminda, a donor who has donated blood 85 times spoke to the media and made a special request from the public not to be misled by certain media campaigns.

He said that people who love the country and its people will never be misled by such media reports and they will always stand by the NBTS and NBTC.

“This is a crucial time as our Armed Forces are about the win the war. It is the country’s youth who donate blood. That is how they can make a contribution. Therefore the whole country should oppose and reject these fabricated media campaigns,” he added.