Blood donations up 3% in Iran in spring
The Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO) revealed on Saturday a 3% increase in the number of blood donations during the first three months of the current Iran year (started March 21), compared to the same period last year, according to a statement by the organization’s spokesman.
IBTO spokesman Dr. Bashir Haji-Beigi said approximately 600,000 units of blood were donated during the spring season, ISNA reported.
Haji-Beigi pointed out the provinces which experienced growth in blood donations. Lorestan Province emerged as the frontrunner, with a remarkable growth rate exceeding 44%. Golestan Province closely followed with an increase of over 17%, while North Khorasan witnessed a rise of more than 16%. Notably, Tehran Province managed to collect almost 100,000 units of blood from volunteers during the spring period.
Commenting on the continuous blood donation index, he revealed that the index for the first quarter of the year stood at 54%, indicating a slight increase compared to the same period last year.
Furthermore, Haji-Beigi shared the current rankings of provinces with the highest continuous blood donation index. Semnan, Yazd, and Golestan provinces demonstrated remarkable indices surpassing 66%, 63%, and 61%, respectively. Noteworthy is the growth observed in Ilam, North Khorasan, and Khuzestan provinces, signifying commendable efforts to retain blood donors in those regions.
He emphasized that the national index of women’s blood donations exceeded 4% during the first three months of this year. Lorestan Province showcased a particularly high index nearing 9%, while North Khorasan reported an index of over 7%. South Khorasan boasted a remarkable index of women’s blood donation in the country, reaching nearly 7%.
These findings highlight the ongoing efforts to encourage and facilitate blood donations in Iran, with provinces across the country contributing to the overall increase in the blood supply.