Perceptions need to change

Few people pay much attention to their blood type until they have a blood test or want to donate.

I donated blood when I was a college student. At that time, I felt that it was a relatively common activity, and I did not pay much attention to my blood type and what it might entail.

However, last month, I witnessed an emergency donation by someone with Rh-negative blood.

The patient's relatives were full of anxiety and waited for the volunteers at the hospital gates－the moment I saw them, I felt a flash of joy that I don't have a rare blood type.

If someone with a rare type of blood needs a transfusion but suitable donors can't be found in time, their operation or treatment may have to be delayed, which can some times be life-threatening.

It is only when a blood transfusion is needed that most people with rare blood types and their families truly understand the significance of their status, and may even regret not having been tested adequately.

People with Rh-negative blood may even face discrimination and misunderstandings because of a lack of general awareness－sometimes, they are treated as though they have a blood disorder, and women are incorrectly warned that they cannot have healthy babies.

We often see heartwarming stories about volunteers helping people with Rh-negative blood in the news. In praising the selflessness of blood donors, we need to realize that they are motivated by many factors.

One of the most important reasons is the shortage of rare blood and the fact that blood banks often have difficulty finding volunteers at critical times.

I think that perceptions of blood donation need to change to make more people aware of its importance. Moreover, medical techniques and treatment methods for people with Rh-negative blood need to be improved, especially those for pregnant women. At present, some essential types of treatment and drugs are lacking in China.

Rh-negative is just another type of blood, and people with such blood are as healthy as those with other types. I hope everyone with "rare blood" should be able to enjoy the same quality of life as "ordinary blood" people.