Years ago, when working as a journalist in London, I told a colleague in passing that I was a regular blood donor. “Some people will do anything for a free biscuit,” he replied. Fair enough, I thought, I walked into that one.
That said, as I sat later in the West End Donor Centre, experiencing the peculiarly woozy feeling of watching the best part of a pint of blood leave my body, I felt something approaching, if not quite pride exactly, then a kind of virtue in doing something that might conceivably help to save someone’s life.
Donating blood is one of the most altruistic gestures we can make to our fellow human beings. Blood is a resource of critical, life-saving importance that cannot be manufactured and is always in demand. But it cannot be stored for very long and is frequently on the verge of running low. In poorer countries, it is children who need it most; in richer countries, it is older people that mostly receive it. Blood donation, storage and distribution is always a race against the clock, and a plentiful supply can be somewhat taken for granted by those of us blessed with good health. People with rare blood types are particularly vulnerable to shortages.
For the most part, the global supply of blood largely depends upon the goodwill of voluntary donors but when supplies run low it is perilous not only for people caught up in sudden and violent incidents, such as a traffic accident, but also for the millions more who are undergoing transplants, giving birth or suffering from chronic illnesses. People living with certain blood disorders such as beta thalassemia, which is prevalent in parts of the Middle East, often need regular transfusions – a requirement that can last their whole life.
That is why it was heartening to hear last week from Dr May Rouf, president and medical director of the Dubai Blood Donation Centre, who told The National that the number of young people giving blood in the emirate has risen by more than 10 per cent in three years and that people between the ages of 18 and 30 were responsible for nearly a quarter of all donations in 2022.
This bucks a trend identified by the World Health Organisation, which says the age profile of blood donors shows that “proportionally, more young people donate blood in low and middle-income countries than in high-income countries”. It also reveals the robust nature of blood supplies in the Emirates, with Dr Rouf pointing out that “the youth demographic aged between 18 and 30 years is the cornerstone of a sustainable and safe national blood donation programme”.
Although the UAE is fortunate in that it has systems in place to avoid running low on blood supplies – the Dubai centre operates an alert system that notifies staff when reserves of a certain blood type are dwindling – the stark reality is that, across the world, not nearly enough people who are able to donate, do so. This can leave supplies on a knife-edge.
This precarity is highlighted when an acute health emergency arises. The Covid pandemic stretched many countries’ blood supply networks to breaking point – the American Red Cross said it experienced its worst shortage in 10 years and in 2022 recorded a 34 per cent drop in the number of new donors compared to the previous year. In October 2021, the UK’s National Health Service Blood and Transplant authority declared a major incident in which supplies were at risk of dropping below two day’s worth.
The stark reality is that, across the world, not nearly enough people who are able to donate, do so
But even meeting the daily need for blood can be a challenge. A report earlier this month from Morocco said the country’s National Blood Transfusion and Hematology Centre was forced to launch a nationwide blood donation campaign amid a critical shortage that required more than 1,000 donations a day to meet demand.
The facts around donation paint a complex picture. Research says a willingness to donate blood varies by country and region – for example, a 2018 Ipsos MORI survey of more than 23,000 adults across 28 countries found that just 11 per cent of respondents in Japan said they donated regularly, although 58 per cent in Saudi Arabia said they frequently gave blood. The American Red Cross, which says it provides about 40 per cent of the country’s blood and blood components, says only 3 per cent of eligible Americans donate each year.
Age and sex also seem to play a role. According to an international report from the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies, nearly 60 per cent of donations are made by donors over the age of 40. More donations came from donors who were between the ages of 50 and 59 at the time of donation than from any other single age group. The WHO says that while 33 per cent of donations come from women globally, in 15 countries, this figure is less than 10 per cent. A report published in the Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences in December found that of 342,460 donors just 2.51 per cent were female.
Nevertheless, some people are beyond conscientious when it comes to donating – for example, a 34-year-old Dubai resident called Roy Rajan overcame a phobia of needles and blood five years ago to become a regular donor. But there will always be a strong need for new and regular supplies – and this means getting more people to donate.
Making the process easier can help. In some countries, mobile blood banks allow supplies to be collected outside regular donation centres, and setting up an appointment can be as easy as sending a text message. Publicity campaigns are a year-round effort. But the idea that blood donation is a universal, civic and ethical duty needs to permeate our society. As good deeds go, taking a few minutes out of our day to roll up our sleeves and give blood once every few weeks is about as selfless as it gets.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Pathaan
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Specs
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How Tesla’s price correction has hit fund managers
Investing in disruptive technology can be a bumpy ride, as investors in Tesla were reminded on Friday, when its stock dropped 7.5 per cent in early trading to $575.
It recovered slightly but still ended the week 15 per cent lower and is down a third from its all-time high of $883 on January 26. The electric car maker’s market cap fell from $834 billion to about $567bn in that time, a drop of an astonishing $267bn, and a blow for those who bought Tesla stock late.
The collapse also hit fund managers that have gone big on Tesla, notably the UK-based Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust and Cathie Wood’s ARK Innovation ETF.
Tesla is the top holding in both funds, making up a hefty 10 per cent of total assets under management. Both funds have fallen by a quarter in the past month.
Matt Weller, global head of market research at GAIN Capital, recently warned that Tesla founder Elon Musk had “flown a bit too close to the sun”, after getting carried away by investing $1.5bn of the company’s money in Bitcoin.
He also predicted Tesla’s sales could struggle as traditional auto manufacturers ramp up electric car production, destroying its first mover advantage.
AJ Bell’s Russ Mould warns that many investors buy tech stocks when earnings forecasts are rising, almost regardless of valuation. “When it works, it really works. But when it goes wrong, elevated valuations leave little or no downside protection.”
A Tesla correction was probably baked in after last year’s astonishing share price surge, and many investors will see this as an opportunity to load up at a reduced price.
Dramatic swings are to be expected when investing in disruptive technology, as Ms Wood at ARK makes clear.
Every week, she sends subscribers a commentary listing “stocks in our strategies that have appreciated or dropped more than 15 per cent in a day” during the week.
Her latest commentary, issued on Friday, showed seven stocks displaying extreme volatility, led by ExOne, a leader in binder jetting 3D printing technology. It jumped 24 per cent, boosted by news that fellow 3D printing specialist Stratasys had beaten fourth-quarter revenues and earnings expectations, seen as good news for the sector.
By contrast, computational drug and material discovery company Schrödinger fell 27 per cent after quarterly and full-year results showed its core software sales and drug development pipeline slowing.
Despite that setback, Ms Wood remains positive, arguing that its “medicinal chemistry platform offers a powerful and unique view into chemical space”.
In her weekly video view, she remains bullish, stating that: “We are on the right side of change, and disruptive innovation is going to deliver exponential growth trajectories for many of our companies, in fact, most of them.”
Ms Wood remains committed to Tesla as she expects global electric car sales to compound at an average annual rate of 82 per cent for the next five years.
She said these are so “enormous that some people find them unbelievable”, and argues that this scepticism, especially among institutional investors, “festers” and creates a great opportunity for ARK.
Only you can decide whether you are a believer or a festering sceptic. If it’s the former, then buckle up.
The past winners
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2010 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2011 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2012 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2013 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2015 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2017 - Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
If you go
The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road.
The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
88 Video's most popular rentals
Avengers 3: Infinity War: an American superhero film released in 2018 and based on the Marvel Comics story.
Sholay: a 1975 Indian action-adventure film. It follows the adventures of two criminals hired by police to catch a vagabond. The film was panned on release but is now considered a classic.
Lucifer: is a 2019 Malayalam-language action film. It dives into the gritty world of Kerala’s politics and has become one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
