A new donor system for the patients with thalassemia: “Blood mother and blood father”

BACKGROUND: Donor recruitment programs differ in countries depending on local conditions and causes. Regularly voluntary blood donation rate should be 5% of the population but it is extremely low in Turkey. In 1998, “Thalassemia flowers don’t fade” campaigning was started to get regular voluntary blood for patients with thalassemia. We would like to present results of our campaigning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Thalassemia center was established in Antalya on the 1(st) June 1994 by Ministry of Health, Turkey, because the incidence of thalassemia is very high in the Antalya region. A total of 388 patients with thalassemia were followed up regularly in the center. The annually blood requirement was approximately 5000 units per year. In 1998, a new program of blood donation for patients with thalassemia called “BLOOD MOTHER and BLOOD FATHER” was started with the support of Governor of Antalya and health management system in Antalya. RESULTS: Between year 1998 and 2006, a total 3000 voluntary blood donors between age 18 and 65 years, of which 2160 males (72%) and 840 were females (28%), had participated in this program. CONCLUSION: “Blood Mother and Blood Father” campaign was successful donor recruitment program for thalassemic care. After 2006, this program is now adopted and run by Turkish Red Crescent and Thalassemia Federation of Turkey for all thalassemics in Turkey.