Voluntary blood donation only way out

‘Blood banks experienced severe shortage this summer’

June 15, 2017 07:54 am | Updated 07:54 am IST - VISAKHAPATNAM

Since 2004, across the globe the World Blood Donor Day is observed on June 14 every year, and keeping in view the shortage of blood across all countries, the theme designed for this year is ‘Give blood. Give Now. Give Often’.

Speaking to The Hindu , Dr. Sugandhi of AS Raja Blood Bank said, “Twenty years ago we had a shortage of about 60 % and now we are running short by 40 %. The demand has increased, but at the same time voluntary donations has not shown upward trend.” Agreeing with Dr. Sugandhi, member of NTR Blood Bank, O. Naresh Kumar said, blood banks had to survive on donation, as no body can be forced to donate blood. “The entire functioning of blood banks depend on human kindness as it is voluntary. And people should come forward to donate blood, as it is component that saves life,” he said.

According to Dr. Sugandhi the blood stock in the city is at is lowest ebb at present. “During summer, the donations have fallen and camps were not conducted. We are now short by almost 80 % and we need to recover fast,” she said.

With Visakhapatnam becoming the health hub for almost 13 districts, covering north coastal Andhra Pradesh and states of Odisha and Chattisgarh, the demand for blood has gone up four folds. Moreover, the city has also gained a reputation for transplant surgeries and in these specialised surgeries the demand for blood is very high.

There has been sharp jump in demand for blood but at the same time voluntary contribution is not matching to requirement, Dr. Sugandhi said.

While average requirement of blood per month in a blood bank is about 1500 units, the stock varies from 800 to 1000 units.

The biggest challenge faced by blood banks in the city is from tribal areas, where sickle cell anaemia and Thalassemia is on the rise. “The children in both the diseases need regular blood transfusion. The global average for thalassemia is 3 % and India is in the medium range, but Agency area of Visakhapatnam is on higher side and close to 3 %,” said Dr. Sugandhi.

World Blood Donor Day is one of eight official global public health campaigns marked by World Health Organization, along with World Health Day, World Tuberculosis Day, World Immunization Week, World Malaria Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Hepatitis Day, and World AIDS Day.

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