WHO Honors IBTO for Exceptional Care of Rare Blood Type Patients

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently praised the efforts of the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO) in providing vital services to patients with rare blood types. This recognition comes in light of the organization’s commitment to ensuring a steady supply of healthy blood for both Iranian citizens and Afghan refugees. The WHO representative, Jaffar Hussain, made these commendations during a ceremony celebrating National Rare Blood Day, highlighting the importance of blood donation in saving lives.

During his speech, Hussain expressed the WHO’s readiness to collaborate with IBTO to enhance services for individuals suffering from rare blood disorders. The partnership aims to improve the quality and availability of blood transfusion services across the region.

Key Highlights from the Ceremony:

• Jaffar Hussain acknowledged IBTO’s expertise in managing blood donation and transfusion.
• The WHO is poised to support IBTO in addressing the needs of patients with rare blood types.
• Mehdi Karbasian from IBTO reported that around 358 units of rare blood are currently preserved at their facilities.
• Out of these, 100 units are classified as very rare and are stored under stringent conditions.

The rare blood units are maintained at extremely low temperatures, ranging from -60 to -70 °C, allowing for a storage duration of up to 10 years. This critical preservation technique ensures that blood is available when needed most, particularly for patients with unique transfusion requirements.

IBTO: A Regional Training Authority

Bashir Haji-Beigi, the spokesperson for IBTO, confirmed that the organization continues to serve as a regional training authority for the WHO in the field of blood transfusion medicine. This prestigious designation underscores IBTO’s commitment to excellence in blood donation practices and research.

Since last year, IBTO has implemented several advanced methodologies, including:

1. Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT): This molecular technique is crucial for screening blood donations, significantly reducing the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections.
2. Antibody Screening: Ensures compatibility between donor and recipient blood, preventing potential complications during transfusions.
3. Genetic Sequencing: Utilizing Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to analyze human leukocyte antigens (HLA) improves tissue compatibility and supports hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Increasing Blood Donation Rates

In a positive trend, the past Iranian calendar year (March 2023-March 2024) witnessed a total of 2,327,997 blood donations—a remarkable increase of 4.7% compared to the previous year. This surge highlights the growing awareness and commitment among Iranians to contribute to their communities.

Notably, Tehran and Fars provinces led the country in blood donations, contributing over 16% and 7%, respectively. Haji-Beigi noted that:

• The province of Lorestan recorded the highest growth in blood donations at 22%.
• North Khorasan followed with a 16% increase.
• Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad saw an approximate growth of 13%.

Overall, the blood donation rate across Iran was above 54%, with Semnan (69%), Yazd (64%), and Qom (63%) provinces achieving the highest percentages. Despite this progress, there is still room for improvement, particularly in increasing women’s participation in blood donation efforts.

Women’s Contribution to Blood Donation

Women accounted for only 4% of total blood donations, amounting to 102,907 individuals—a modest increase from the previous year. Nevertheless, there is a concerted effort to encourage greater involvement from women in blood donation activities.

In Lorestan province, women made up 9% of donations, followed closely by North Khorasan with nearly 8% and Sistan-Baluchestan with over 7%. This highlights the potential for further engagement in other regions as well.

Last year, the blood donation rate per 1,000 individuals in Iran reached 27, with Mazandaran province leading the way with over 40,000 donations. Semnan and Yazd provinces followed closely with over 39,000 and around 39,000 donations, respectively.

In conclusion, the recognition from the WHO emphasizes the critical role of IBTO in ensuring a safe and reliable blood supply for patients in need. The ongoing collaboration between IBTO and the WHO promises to enhance blood donation practices and save countless lives across Iran and beyond.