The high maternal mortality rate (MMR), mostly due to hemorrhage remains a serious health problem in Indonesia. As a developing country Indonesia puts this health issue as one of the main focal points. Therefore, in the achievement of the MDGs program, the reduction of MMR becomes a priority that has to be done. "One of the efforts to support the reduction in maternal mortality rate is the provision of safe blood for transfusion," said dr. Ova Emilia, MMEd., Ph.D., Sp.OG during the launching of Blood Donor Directory movement in the UGM Faculty of Medicine recently.
Ova Emilia explains blood transfusion involves giving whole blood or one or more blood components from one individual (donor) to another individual (recipient), and the blood transfusion action is one of the important supporting therapies for the hospitalized patient management. "In Yogyakarta alone, the amount of blood needs ranging from 4500 to 5,000 bags per month," she said in the Auditorium of the Faculty.
As the chairman of Blood Donor Team, Ova Emilia explains that safe blood can be obtained from donors who are voluntary non-remunerated and come from low-risk populations or what is called voluntary donors. Hence, Blood Donors Directory contains data of blood donors, who come from academic society of Faculty of Medicine and Dr. Sardjito Hospital. The program that is administered by Faculty of Medicine is capable of displaying data that can be publicly accessible through the website. Therefore, the relatively limited number of donors can be accessed by the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI)/ Hospital in the Yogyakarta area, to be asked to voluntarily donate blood regularly as scheduled and in incidental events.
"These data basically contains the identity of the donor, blood type, data of conducted donations, the blood needs of statistical data, the number and characteristics of the donor, the number and types of donations, screening results, donation locations and information about blood donation," she said.
Before the Chairman of the PMI, Jusuf Kalla, who attended the launching, Ova explained that the data will be updated regularly by the administration officers of blood donors’ directory. That way the directory manager can communicate with donors via telephone, SMS, email and vice versa. "Directory Manager will express gratitude to the donors after blood donation. Birthday congratulation, convey information about blood donation and remind donors about the next schedule," he said.
The Blood Donors Directory is expected to become the network with PMI, Public Health Service and hospitals in Yogyakarta. The objectives of this activity is all the academicians of the Faculty and hospital personell at dr. Sardjito Hospital (employees/staff/students of each study program, employees and staff from various units/sections, medical/non-medical staff from dr. Sardjito hospital, resident). Meanwhile, the active donors that could be managed by the Blood Donor directory are at least 1,500 people, and this is planned to be expanded according to the situation.
In addition to increasing awareness and knowledge about blood donation, blood donor directory program is able to increase social awareness of the UGM Faculty of Medicine academic society and inspire the willingness of people to become blood donors. "Therefore, in addition to Blood Donor Directory launching event, Charity Concert featuring guest star Afgan is also held," he added.
Seen present in the launching are the Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Prof. dr. Ali Ghufron Mukti, M.Sc., Ph.D. and Vice Rector of Alumni and Business Development, Prof.Ir. Atyanto Dharoko, M. Phil., Ph.D., and 50 blood donors.