Dozens of blood transfusions postponed

Dozens of blood transfusions to thalassemia patients were postponed due to low reserves in Cyprus’ blood bank, head of the national thalassemia association Miltos Miltiadous said on Sunday.

His statements to CNA comes after weeks of multiple appeals to the public to donate blood amid limited supply.

“People with thalassemia or any other individuals depending on blood supply should not pay the price of these problems. We cannot accept this,” Miltiadous said.

He specified 20 transfusions were postponed in Nicosia, and eight postponed in Larnaca. In Limassol those who needed two units of blood were forced to receive only one, meaning they will be returning for a new transfusion in half the time they would usually need.

The problem began around September 5 and has begun to normalise in the past few days, Miltiadous added, after repeated public appeals.

“The blood bank needs to be bolstered, procedures re-evaluated and transfusion protocols need to finally be done, so that blood supply is sufficient for all citizens’ needs.”

He underlined that for people with thalassaemia, any postponement of transfusions causes a chain of problems in multiple spheres.

“Professional and personal planning is affected, but at the same time, haemoglobin drops, with all the consequences that this has on the body, the strengths and the comorbidities that we have.”

Miltiadous added the association has ‘been at the forefront’ of everything to do with blood donation in Cyprus, where it has also recently taken steps creating of an educatiol programme integrated into primary school curriculum.

A day earlier, head of the blood bank Androula Panayiotou said the public had largely responded to calls for blood donations, meaning available reserves should be back to normal this week.