DR1 Blood Donor Register - Page 3

Chris · #21 08-10-2007, 01:52 PM

It would be great if we could get a list of what is allowed and what is not allowed. Do these differ from bloodbank to bloodbank, or are the rules universal?

Alyonka · #22 08-10-2007, 01:58 PM

In the US these rules are set by current USDA regulations. There is a regulation that if you spent a lot of time in Europe before or around 1997 (which I did) - they are not supposed to accept your blood for donation in any bank or clinic. What would be the regulating organ in the DR? Ministry or Health or something like that? Can we look it up on their website?

Lambada · #23 08-10-2007, 02:20 PM

15 years here & you still learn something every day! I have just come back from seeing the doctor in charge of the blood bank at Ricardo Limardo hospital in Puerto Plata. Ricardo Limardo is the public hospital and yes they do have a blood bank. She will only take blood donors who are male, under 65 years of age, with 45% haematocrit (they do a PCV (packed cell volume test)at time of donation to check the proportion of space red blood cells take up in the blood). Other exclusions are hepatitis, tattoos, piercings etc - the things you'd expect. Women are excluded from donating: any age, all women. Of course I asked why & was told donations from women cause a lot of problems 'Women get a lot of headaches' she said. Didn't exactly sound like a scientific explanation to me, but she's the doctor & I'm not.

Maybe someone else would like to check a private clinic in a different location to see if same exclusions apply?

I ran this by Mercedes when I got home & she confirmed that women in this country are not blood donors. Her sister needed blood once in an emergency & she volunteered but they wouldn't take it. She also said mothers wouldn't be allowed to give blood to their children in an emergency.

If this turns out to be a universal exclusion maybe we could work on a facilitative educational campaign? I'm not in favour of imposing my UK culture on the DR, but excluding half the population is such a waste. I don't know if this stems from old wives' tales, or the need to reinforce machismo but whatever it is I think we could play a role in helping to facilitate change...........slowly.

Sorry, ladies. Don't shoot the messenger!

Chris · #24 08-10-2007, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lambada

Women are excluded from donating: any age, all women. Of course I asked why & was told donations from women cause a lot of problems 'Women get a lot of headaches' she said.

Incredible! I'm sure we'll find the roots to this in some old social, perhaps religion related, taboo.

Alyonka · #25 08-10-2007, 02:40 PM

That is why they have blood shortage problems

Oh well, I guess I just have to wait until USDA changes its regulations ... I was hoping I can at least do it in the DR. Lambada, thanks for the information!

Lambada · #26 08-10-2007, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Incredible! I'm sure we'll find the roots to this in some old social, perhaps religion related, taboo.

Interesting that the doctor knew what my reaction (lack of comprehension) would be. I could tell from her smile & body language (of the 'you're going to find this odd but..........' variety). And from her age this doctor has been a doctor for many years. So maybe we need to address this with female medics here, consciousness raising etc?

Sharlene · #27 08-10-2007, 03:18 PM

Well Lambada now appears to have uncovered the main reason for the blood shortages... I am shocked and appalled that women are excluded from giving blood. It was 'touched upon' in the previous thread, but I thought it may just pertain to one situation. I now have a horrible feeling that it may apply to every situation here, unless the private clinics operate under a different code of practice. I'd be interested to know how many deaths of admissions to Ricardo Limardo hospital in the last 5 years can be attributed to lack of blood!

There are three stories on the previous 'Let's hope we never need blood thread' telling of blood shortages in times of need. In two of the stories (posts 27 and 29) televised appeals had to be made to find 'suitable' donors who, in one case at least, appear to have been male Dominicans who were 'rewarded' for their efforts! I wonder if Dominican women would have been paid the same (if at all!) if they were permitted to give blood.....

In one of the cases, a televised appeal was necessary because 4 blood banks in SD didn't have blood! The recipient of the appeal, had MANY people coming forward and after paying for those people to be separated out into those that were suitable etc, the end cost of 8 pints of blood was $1800! It would appear that the cost of the blood and the 'screening' of donors process doesn't appear to be covered by medical insurance.....

In the 3rd case (an emergency one), 4 blood banks were visited in Santiago before the necessary blood was found, and even then there was a hold up because the paperwork was missing a particular hospital 'stamp' and the blood would not be released until it was obtained, even though it was an emergency situation!

I agree with Lambada about not trying to impose our own cultures on the DR, but I agree with her that, in this situation, when we're talking about saving lives, something has to be done! As Lambada said (and, as a resident of 15 years, she knows her stuff!) it will probably be a slow change, but it's surely one that has to begin as soon as possible.....

So, if anybody can given any information on the blood giving exclusions of any of the private clinics it would be very welcome. I cannot even begin to put into words how I imagine a mother must feel who is unable to donate blood to her child when there is no other blood available........and no 'time' for a televised appeal.......

Linda Stapleton · #28 08-10-2007, 07:31 PM

In the posts referred to by myself and Isobella (talking about the same incident, by the way) this was a private clinic, Cedimat, allegedly one of the best and most enlightened in the country, so I think we have a long battle ahead of us, but that's no reason not to try to win it.

I'm up for trying to do a bit of consciousness raising if we can come up with a strategy.

Linda.

Sharlene · #29 08-11-2007, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linda Stapleton

In the posts referred to by myself and Isobella (talking about the same incident, by the way) this was a private clinic, Cedimat, allegedly one of the best and most enlightened in the country, so I think we have a long battle ahead of us, but that's no reason not to try to win it.

I'm up for trying to do a bit of consciousness raising if we can come up with a strategy.

Linda.

I do apologise, I thought yourself and Isobella were referring to separate incidents as Isobella's didn't state the name of the person. I see what you mean about 'a long battle ahead' if Cedimat takes the same stance with regard to refusing female donors.

I guess a strategy requires careful thought and consideration, given the current situation..... I guess the first thing to do is to find out the real reason why women aren't allowed to donate and who exactly is responsible for that decision so we can see what we're 'up against' in the quest to 'raise consciousness'....

Linda Stapleton · #30 08-11-2007, 08:26 AM

I have a missionary nursing friend who runs public clinics and has had quite a lot of dealings with the health authorities in the past. She is away at present but when she gets back shortly I will see if she has any ideas.

Linda