MOTIVATION OF BLOOD DONORS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE REGIONAL CENTER FOR TRANSFUSION MEDICINE TETOVO WITH OTHER SERVICES GOSTIVAR, KICEVO, AND STRUGA

Ekrem Ismani, Vegim Zhaku, Nexhbedin Abazi, Edona Ismani Xhemaili

Abstract

Donating blood and saving the lives at the same time of the sick or injured people who need blood the most, is a high moral, human and solidarity act as well as a general social obligation. Blood transfusion is considered an integral part of medicine that treats thousands of patients every year, making blood products’ management, safety, and storage fundamental in every country’s national healthcare policy [1, 2]. This act represents altruism and awareness of society to come to the aid of all patients who are being treated and operated on in public and private hospitals in Tetovo, Gostivar, Kicevo, and Struga (the western part of North Macedonia). However, not everyone can or is willing to donate; hence, constant encouragement from blood centers is, therefore, a necessary prosocial behavior so that blood can be collected from all blood types. Successfully realization of this act incorporates high motivation, raising awareness and compassion of blood donors, which is a difficult task for the institute for transfusion medicine. The institute is fully committed by organizing different activities such are promotional activities, announcing blood donation activities within the hospital and university locations, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn), newspapers, posters in various formats, brochures, TV spots (20-30 seconds) and radio broadcasts (10-20 seconds) as a way of mass communication with potential blood donors. These mechanisms are crucial and impact also all staff employed in these transfusion services, for drawing a concise plan, strategy, analysis, adequate decisions, implementation of ideas, preparations for frequent audits for recruiting as many blood donors as possible to increase blood reserves and deal with various crises during emergencies (wars, earthquakes, floods, etc.). Blood donation is based on the following 3 cardinal principles: voluntary action, it’s not paid, and donor ID remains anonymous. In the segment of blood donation, there is no place for social, racial, religious, national, economical class, or political discrimination. During blood donation, we must take maximum care of the health of the blood donor on one side and on the other, the quality of blood and components of the blood recipient-patient must be provided. For the donation to be successful at the state level, the report through the Ministry of Health of the Republic of North Macedonia, the Red Cross, and the institute for transfusion medicine with relevant services. Since December 2019, the world was plagued by a new disease that originated in Wuhan, China, and by the moment of speaking it has infected almost 500 million people around the globe, causing at least 6 million deaths across 227 countries [3]. The social and economical lockdown was implemented, and the fear of virus transmission has not only affected the public’s health and a decline in the economy, but it caused a significant drop in the number of blood donations across the world including North Macedonia also. The blood donation process was negatively influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic due to a dramatic decrease in blood donors, forcing blood banks and blood donation centers to implement new policies to increase blood supply while protecting donors from COVID-19 infection [4]. The adequate and safe availability of blood to meet patient needs became a significant concern. The ratio of blood donation significantly decreased by 40% to 67%, especially during COVID-19 worldwide [5]. Active donors failed to approach blood transfusion centers, and people are dying from other diseases and the pandemic COVID-19 due to a shortage of blood supply [6,7]. On average, more than 118.5 million blood units are collected worldwide [8]. Because of the successful action plan designed by our institute, before the Covid-19 pandemics arise, the crisis did not affect at all blood reservoirs at our institute and blood donation at all, because it increased mobilization of the population to donate blood, a process which was interrupted in a small range of period including the total lockdown from March to May 2020, when was seen a significant drop in blood donation, but was not associated with insufficient blood supply, this maybe because of the reduction of surgical procedures and traumatic accidents during this period. Thus, considering everything said above, the aim of this paper is to: To show the ratio between voluntary and family donations during the period Covid-19 2020-2021; What is the percentage of voluntary donation during this period; Comparing blood donation statistics before and after Covid-19 crisis, and how the crisis has impacted blood donation; Presenting the structure of blood donation in the context of age, gender, ethnicity and profession. A systematically research for studies that have been conducted in other countries and comparing statistics with our country.

Pages: 70 - 79