WHO seeks safe blood for pregnant women

GENEVA -- The U.N. health agency announced a drive Thursday to give pregnant women increased access to safe blood, warning that about 125,000 mothers bleed to death during childbirth each year.

The World Health Organization said safe blood donations were vital in helping women survive pregnancy. The agency said that two years after establishing a national blood transfusion service in 2003, Malawi's maternal mortality rate due to severe blood loss dropped more than 50 percent.

"We must do everything we can to improve the chances of women during and after childbirth," said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan.

The new initiative is part of the WHO's broader agenda for providing universal access to safe transfusions.

Of the 20 countries with the highest maternal mortality rates, 19 are in sub-Saharan Africa, where one in 16 women die from pregnancy-related causes. WHO said that compares with 1 in 2,800 in rich countries.

As part of the campaign, WHO is trying to help countries increase voluntary blood donation and ensure quality screening and rational use of blood to tackle pregnancy complications.

WHO has long urged countries to rely on voluntary, unpaid blood donations to ensure a safe and sufficient supply. Worldwide, the highest rate of contamination is found among donors who give blood for money or other forms of payment.

"People who are paid to give blood are more likely to lie," said Daniela Bagozzi, a spokeswoman for WHO's health technology and pharmaceuticals division. "Those who give blood for altruistic reasons are less likely to lie about risky sexual behavior."

A WHO survey based on 2004 data collected from 172 countries and covering 95 percent of the world's population has shown progress in ensuring a safer, more adequate supply of blood.

Between 2001 and 2004, 60 countries reported an increase in the percentage of blood collected from voluntary unpaid donors, 41 countries maintained the same level, while 37 showed a decline.

Almost three-quarters of the 40 sub-Saharan African countries have yet to establish national quality-control systems. About 28 percent of the 148 countries providing data on screening were unable to test the donated blood for one or more major infections.

Generally, 1-3 percent of the population needs to give blood to meet a country's needs. In 80 countries, less than 1 percent of the population donates blood.