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Hospital campaigns to promote platelet donation
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SHANGHAI Children’s Medical Center has set up a temporary platelets donation room as part of a campaign to increase awareness on platelet donation.
Shanghai collected 7,600 liters of platelets last year. The donation numbers have been rising over the years which has helped leukemia patients who can now get the platelets in a day or two instead of waiting for four days.
But the city’s platelets storage still falls short because large number of patients come from other provinces to the city for its better medical capability.
“We need at least 100 to 200 liters of extra donation every year, however people’s understanding about platelet donation is still low,” said Zou Zhengrong, director of Shanghai Blood Administration Office.
“SCMC has used 13 percent of the annual platelet collection. Most of the leukemia patients are from other provinces. We have built a close network with the hospital to try our best to meet its demand but it is a tough job under the current level.”
SCMC is the leading leukemia treatment center in Asia. It receives over 1,000 children suffering from leukemia every year and conducts over 100 stem cell transplants annually.
Children with leukemia and cancer need regular platelet transfusion after chemotherapy and stem cell transplant.
If a child’s platelet count falls below a certain level they are prone to bleeding and the natural clotting function fails to work.
There was a shortage this summer, putting one third children at risk at the hospital’s hematology and oncology department. The hospital had to split one unit for two children and only the most serious patients received platelets.
“My daughter had internal bleeding on her right eyeball and lost vision in August after waiting for platelets for several days,” said a man surnamed Yan whose 12-year-old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia in March.
“Though her bleeding stopped after receiving platelets, there were blind spots still on the eye ball. We almost lost our mind while she cried and asked us to quit her treatment and have another child,” he said.
“I am a regular platelet donor now and hope more people can help children like my daughter and donate generously. Platelets are the only hope of life for these children.”
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