For 5 months of 2013 1819 blood donations were registered in Armenia, which is 16.8% more than for the same period of 2012, Smbat Dagbashyan, Director of Hematology Center, told media on June 14.
The expert said that blood safety is ensured through up-to-date technologies. As a result, Armenia has achieved a very high level of blood viral safety.
Dagbashyan said that 52% of blood donors are relatives and friends of patients that need blood transfusion. Paid donors are 43.8%. They received 10,000-15,000 drams for food and transport. So, blood donation without compensation is still at a low level.
He recalled that more blood donations will save more lives. Dagbashyan said that the equipment at the regional centers of blood transfusion is outdated. He hopes that a relevant program submitted to the Health Ministry will settle the given problem.
June 14 is the World Blood Donor Day. It was introduced in May 2005 on sidelines of the 58th session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva.