KARACHI, Dec 22: The Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA) on Monday sealed two blood banks in the vicinity of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital as they were allegedly involved in the collection and sale of blood in violation of the relevant laws.

Since Dec 1, when a special campaign was launched by the SBTA to ensure that the blood banks and pathological labs work in line with the Sindh Transfusion of Safe Blood Act, 1997, as many as nine blood dealers have been stopped from continuing their activities.

The two blood banks sealed on Monday were located in the Paposhnagar area of Nazimabad.

Meanwhile, Sindh Health Minister Dr Saghir Ahmed announced that the SBTA would set up 24 new blood banks in various hospitals in eight districts and 16 Talukas of Sindh by the year 2010, adds APP.

The minister had earlier warned unregistered blood banks in Karachi and the interior of Sindh to shut down any activities from within small pathological laboratories.

Dr Ahmed said that illegal blood banks in various parts of the city were sealed and their equipment seized after their activities had first been monitored. He pointed out that illegal blood banks operating out of small laboratories were neither registered with the SBTA nor did they even have any pathologists. He said all such blood banks will be shut down and strict action would be taken against those operating them under the relevant law.

The minister asked all unregistered blood banks to immediately contact the SBTA, which would issue a No-Objection Certificate to them after inspecting their premises and processes. He described all unregistered blood banks as “illegal”. Dr Ahmed asserted that the objective of this drive was to ensure safe blood transfusions to patients and to protect them against hepatitis B and C, HIV-Aids, malaria and other blood diseases.

He appreciated the functioning of the blood bank authority and directed that the campaign should continue until its results are achieved.

The new blood banks to be established by the SBTA will function at the Sindh government hospitals at Ibrahim Hyderi and Sher Shah in Karachi and at the Sindh Government hospitals at Preetabad (Hyderabad), Qasimabad (Hyderabad), Lotri Sanitorium (Taluka Matiari), Tando Adam, Kingri, Sujawal, Mirpur Sakro, Golarchi, Mirpur Mathelo, Kot Ghulam Mohammed, Tando Bago, K.N. Shah, Chhachro, Meero Khan, Ranipur, Taluka Deeplo, Kashmore, Johi, Mirpur Bathoro and Jhuddo. The project will cost about Rs18.7 million.

These blood banks will be equipped with refrigerators, analyser readers, microscopes, water baths, blood bank coaches, generators, centrifuge machinery, haemoglobin meters and other equipment. Hepatitis B and C and HIV-AIDS diagnosis kits will also be provided.

The minister said that some 180 medical officers and technicians would be trained to work at the blood banks.

Dengue patients