KARACHI: Muhammadi Hematology Oncology Services and Welfare Foundation (MHOSWF) to construct an institute of haematology and transfusion medicine, thalassaemia center, blood bank and a laboratory in Karachi. This was announced by Sarwar Ali, president MHOSWF, Chief Executive Officer Mehdi Rizvi and Executive Medical Director Professor Dr Mohammad Usman during a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday. Officials said that MHOSWF has completed 15 years since its establishment during which it has established six blood banks in Karachi and other parts of the country, provided more than 300,000 units of safe blood and its components. Around 200,000 units of blood and components were provided in the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) alone. Executive Medical Director Prof. Dr Mohammad Usman MHOSWF said that the charity’s headquarters was being constructed near Britto Road near Numaish Chowrangi, which would soon be opened where the blood bank, thalassaemia center, a laboratory and an institute of haematology and transfusion medicine would be housed. Sarwar Ali said more than 40,000 units of safe blood and its components have been provided to the children suffering from thalassaemia in two thalassaemia centers located in Karachi and Multan. The number of our registered blood donors has gone over 7,000. CEO Mehdi Rizvi said that apart from the two thalassaemia centers in Karachi and Multan, the charity was providing safe blood to other such facilities as well to other thalassaemia centers, which had good credibility and better track record in serving children with thalassaemia. Speakers said that blood banks are playing a vital role in providing safe blood and its part to various parts of the country, which is clearly shown from the fact that more than 30,000 units of bloods and its components are being provided every year by these blood banks. Published in Daily Times, February 2nd 2018.