Recently we have had yet another Rhesus negative blood donor crisis. This time the blood type needed was AB Rhesus negative. Now, if Rhesus negative type blood is rare, then AB negative is the “Hens Tooth” kind of rare. I do have a register of Rh negative donors, and only two of the fifty people registered are AB negative. In the recent call for AB neg donors, the gentleman concerned needed not just one or two units, but lots over a period of time. With a hemoglobin level of 6, he could not be flown out, and he had no insurance to boot! This man was in a very sticky situation indeed.
So why the big hoo-ha about Rhesus negative blood groups in Asia? The Caucasian (white) population averages about a 15 -25 % negative blood group type. The Asian population averages less than 3%. So…...if you are a bleeding Caucasian (with a negative blood type), in an Asian country, you are in trouble.
Having said that, it never ceases to amaze me how many Westerners I interview that do not have a clue what their own blood type is. If you do not know your own blood group you are being ignorant. (You can find out your own blood type by a simple / cheap blood test with me or directly at any laboratory).
If you do know that you are Rhesus negative, and you do not register with someone (Red Cross 227224, myself at Community Health Care - text message to 08123660000, and/or your consulate), AND you do not have some sort of health or travel insurance then you are being downright irresponsible!
If you do register yourself as an emergency donor, remember that you have to be prepared to be called at awkward hours, and give up a bit of your time. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, you can be assured that a genuine emergency is at hand. And don’t forget, one day you might be on the receiving end of someone else’s kind deed.
Most local people do have some idea of their blood group as they are asked this before they are issued a driving license. I have my doubts as to how accurate this is, and in any case, none are told their Rhesus factor. Several years ago I asked the director of the blood bank why this was so? His answer? Because so few locals were Rhesus negative that it did not matter! I would consider that 3 out of 100 lives DO matter. In fact I have managed more than several Balinese women through their pregnancies who were very surprised to find out that they were indeed Rhesus negative.
Being Negative & Pregnant
It is standard prenatal care (or it should be) to check a mothers blood group early in the pregnancy. The consideration here is Rhesus incompatibility disease of the unborn baby. If the father of the child has a Rhesus positive blood group, the baby will more than likely be positive. This should not be a problem unless the mothers and babies blood accidentally mix. Not a common occurrence, but it can occur. If the mothers negative blood has been exposed to the baby’s positive blood, she will build up antibodies against the baby. In effect, she builds up an “allergy” to her own child. This has serious implications for the unborn child if it is left unchecked.
This mother needs to have serum antibodies assessed at various stages of the pregnancy. She will need to receive an injection of Anti-D (or Rhogum), if the antibodies rise and at delivery of each child to prevent her from building up these antibodies against future pregnancies.
Solutions
So what do we do here to prevent situations of needless loss of life when the correct blood is not available? Give up your half a liter of liquid life, and give it up soon! The recent Dengue fever epidemic has left the blood supplies sadly depleted of every blood type, not only the rarer Rhesus negative groups. The Rotary / Red Cross transfusion unit is situated at Sanglah hospital, all their equipment is sterile & single use (disposable), and they are very professional. The mobile transfusion unit can come to your home oroffice. You might want to organize a group and make an afternoon of it! (No alcohol until after you have been bled!)
For further information call the Red Cross 227224.
Not all people are able to donate their blood. Those unable to donate are:
- Age less than 17 or over 65 years.
- Hemophiliacs.
- Anyone carrying a blood borne disease (i.e. Hepatitis B or C, Malaria, HIV).
- Those in poor general health.
- Pregnant or breast feeding women.
- Menstruating women.
- Anyone suffering from any kind of anemia.
- Persons recently immunized with live vaccines (Polio, BCG, Rubella).
- Those whose blood pressure is found to be below 100/ 50 before you donate. (If your blood pressure is always this low like mine, go for a brisk walk around the car park before you go in!)
Kim Patra is a qualified registered nurse and midwife who has been living and working in Bali for almost 20 years. She now runs her own private practice and medical referral service from her Kuta office. Kim is happy to discuss any health concerns with you and she may be contacted via e-mail at info@chcbali.com or Hp. 081 2366 0000.
