While deficit of blood has hit needy patients and relatives in hospitals, a stark disparity in gender distribution of blood donation has compounded the problem. Going by local statistics, women constitute less than 10 per cent of total donors.
Numbers provided by the District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit project that female donors at the Annal Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital are a few hundreds compared to male donors whose numbers are a few thousands.
World Health Organisation statistics for 2011 reiterate the fact that India is among the nations with the lowest number of female donors in the world. Women donors in India form six per cent of total donors.
But the facts do not reflect on enthusiasm of women donors, concur blood donation motivators and medicos. Rather, it points to a health problem that needs to be addressed to improve women's healthcare. The difference in numbers is attributed to rejection of women donors on basis of low haemoglobin count or anaemia.
A blood donor must have 12 mdg haemoglobin which is required for haemoglobin to carry oxygen to all organs of the body, including the brain. Most college students fail to make the mark.
With college students comprising 90 per cent of donors, women's colleges are not lagging behind in conducting blood donation camps, says a principal of a city college. Pernicious anaemia in students, particularly from rural pockets is case for deferment or not being allowed to donate blood, she adds.
Low haemoglobin count and underweight issues are leading cases of rejection of donors at the government blood bank, says T.Priya, medical officer.
Students with low pressure and heavy bleeding on account of menstruation are also not encouraged to donate blood.
“A lot of girls come up to donate blood but they are not eligible to donate due to various reasons. Some do not take precautions like having breakfast and end up fainting after donating blood, which scares the rest,” says Aaditya, a blood donor. “I had a classmate who was not allowed to donate as she was underweight. She worked on it and came back to donate this year.”
