The Regional Blood Centre (RBC) Dera Ismail Khan has intensified efforts to strengthen institutional coordination, promote component-based transfusion, facilitate timely blood availability for patients and encourage voluntary blood donation through a series of meetings and visits involving members of the Board of Governors of Medical Teaching Institute (MTI), Defence Security Forces (DSF) and senior medical professionals.
Regional Blood Centre DIKhan seeks institutional cooperation to promote voluntary blood donation
Dera Ismail Khan , Aug 09 (APP): The Regional Blood Centre (RBC) Dera Ismail Khan has intensified efforts to strengthen institutional coordination, promote component-based transfusion, facilitate timely blood availability for patients and encourage voluntary blood donation through a series of meetings and visits involving members of the Board of Governors of Medical Teaching Institute (MTI), Defence Security Forces (DSF) and senior medical professionals.
As part of these activities, members of the Board of Governors (BoG), MTI Dera Ismail Khan, Dr. Ashfaq Khan and Engineer Zubair Khan, visited the Regional Blood Centre. Emergency Specialist Dr. Muhammad Asad and Director HR Dr. Ubaidullah accompanied them.
The visiting BoG members met Manager Regional Blood Centre Dr. Muhammad Rizwan Rajput at his office and were subsequently taken on a detailed tour of different sections of the centre. They were briefed about blood collection, screening, processing, component preparation, storage and transfusion-related services being provided to patients.
The meeting focused particularly on the proposed Thalassemia Unit at DHQ Teaching Hospital MTI Dera Ismail Khan and the possibility of establishing a structured mechanism for provision of blood and blood components to patients who would be treated at the proposed unit.
Dr. Muhammad Rizwan Rajput assured the visiting BoG members that the Regional Blood Centre would extend maximum possible cooperation for the timely provision of safe blood and blood components to thalassemia patients. He also expressed willingness for formalising the cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the relevant institutions.
The Regional Blood Centre manager also drew the attention of the BoG members towards the shortage of staff at the centre, particularly security guards and watchmen. He said the shortage had affected the operation of the centre’s gate located opposite the Women & Children Hospital, which often remained closed due to inadequate security arrangements.
The BoG members assured the Regional Blood Centre management of their all possible cooperation in resolving the issue and arranging the required security staff.
In another important engagement, Regional Blood Centre Manager Dr. Muhammad Rizwan Rajput met Brigadier Rizwan-ul-Haq, Commandant Defence Security Forces (DSF), Pakistan Army, at his office in Dera Ismail Khan Cantonment.
Health Education Officer Muhammad Sajjad Khan and Administrative Officer Nasir Khan were also present during the meeting.
Dr. Rajput briefed Brigadier Rizwan-ul-Haq about the Regional Blood Centre’s modern facilities, blood safety mechanisms and services being provided to patients in Dera Ismail Khan and surrounding southern districts.
He highlighted the importance of maintaining an effective blood supply mechanism during emergencies, natural disasters and other crisis situations, particularly for security forces, police personnel and other public institutions requiring urgent transfusion support.
Dr. Rajput also invited the DSF Commandant to visit the Regional Blood Centre and proposed that the centre and Defence Security Forces explore signing an MoU for institutional cooperation.
He said such an arrangement could help establish an organised mechanism for ensuring timely and safe blood supplies to security forces, police and other relevant institutions during emergencies.
Brigadier Rizwan-ul-Haq appreciated the services of the Regional Blood Centre and welcomed the proposal for enhanced cooperation. .
Meanwhile, Dr. Aftab Marwat, Assistant Professor of General Surgery at DHQ Teaching Hospital MTI Dera Ismail Khan and former Chairman Young Doctors Association (YDA), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, visited the Regional Blood Centre and held a meeting with its Manager Dr. Muhammad Rizwan Rajput.
During the meeting, Dr. Rajput invited doctors associated with Young Doctors Association, MTI Dera Ismail Khan, to visit the Regional Blood Centre and familiarise themselves with its newly established blood transfusion facilities, blood component preparation system and standards of services being provided to patients.
He emphasised the importance of strengthening coordination between clinicians and blood transfusion services so that doctors could make appropriate use of blood components according to individual patient requirements.
Dr. Rajput also invited Dr. Aftab Marwat and the doctors associated with YDA, MTI Dera Ismail Khan, to play an active role in promoting voluntary blood donation and creating awareness among doctors, students and the wider community about safe blood and component therapy.
Dr. Aftab Marwat assured that he, along with the doctors of YDA, MTI Dera Ismail Khan, would visit the Regional Blood Centre at the earliest opportunity, observe its services and facilities and play an active and key role in promoting voluntary blood donation.
Dr. Rajput expressed gratitude to Dr. Aftab Marwat for his visit and for his interest in strengthening cooperation between the medical community and the Regional Blood Centre.
Separately, Khyber Medical University (KMU), Dera Ismail Khan Campus, and the Regional Blood Centre DI Khan have signed an MoU to promote voluntary blood donation, provide practical training to medical students and jointly organise awareness programmes on blood safety and transfusion-related issues.
The MoU was signed by Manager Regional Blood Centre Dr. Muhammad Rizwan Rajput and Director KMU Dera Ismail Khan Campus Dr. Arif Saleem Khattak.
Under the agreement, KMU students will receive practical and technical exposure at the Regional Blood Centre in blood donation, screening, laboratory procedures and safe transfusion practices. The two institutions will also organise voluntary blood donation camps at the university campus besides holding seminars, workshops and awareness programmes on blood-related diseases, hereditary disorders, safe transfusion and the importance of voluntary blood donation.
The collaboration is aimed at strengthening the link between medical education and blood transfusion services, encouraging a culture of voluntary blood donation among young people and enhancing public awareness about safe blood and transfusion practices.
The engagements reflect the Regional Blood Centre DI Khan’s comprehensive approach to strengthening institutional partnerships and transfusion services by improving support for thalassemia patients, ensuring timely blood availability during emergencies, enhancing coordination with healthcare and security institutions, promoting rational use of blood components and expanding voluntary blood donation. The initiatives, including the proposed institutional collaborations with MTI DHQ Hospital, Defence Security Forces and YDA, along with the MoU with KMU DI Khan Campus, are expected to further strengthen blood safety, medical training, public awareness and access to safe blood and blood components across Dera Ismail Khan and adjoining districts.
