Some organisers of voluntary donation camps are anxious that donors could develop well being points after donation, as dehydration and heat-related weak point are frequent throughout summer.
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Blood banks in Karnataka have been dealing with a extreme scarcity of life-saving blood for the final two months. While the scarcity is seen throughout each summer trip, the continued elections and unprecedented heatwave conditions have made the state of affairs worse.
While a lot of the 43 government-run banks are capable of handle by way of donations by their common walk-in donors, a number of of the 217 non-public blood banks will not be capable of meet even 50% of the demand as their provide primarily depends upon voluntary blood donation camps.
Ever because the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the Lok Sabha polls got here into pressure on March 16, hardly any blood donation camps have been performed. While academic establishments, the place camps are normally held, are closed for the summer trip, even those that need to donate will not be eager because of the extreme heatwave conditions.
Heatwave conditions
Some organisers of voluntary donation camps are anxious that donors could develop well being points after donation, as dehydration and heat-related weak point are frequent throughout summer. “Usually, donation camps were organised to mark politicians’ birthdays and other occasions. But, now, this is not possible till June first week as MCC is in force. Besides, even those who want to donate are sometimes found to be dehydrated or unfit to donate. All these factors have led to a severe shortage of readily available blood,” mentioned T.N. Ravi Kumar, director of Red Cross Blood Bank Sub-Committee. He mentioned the scarcity had hit sufferers, largely in non-public hospitals the place they had been requested to interchange the blood given earlier than discharge.
Abdul Rehman Shariff, managing trustee of Jeevaraksha Blood Centre, mentioned his financial institution is dealing with a 50% scarcity. “We have a demand for around 500 units per month, but we are able to supply only around 300 in the last two months. The situation is the same across all blood banks, and we are also getting requests from government hospital blood banks,” he mentioned.
Donation camps
Narasimhaswamy L., Medical Officer at Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre, mentioned this NABH-accredited centre was capable of handle by way of pre-planned donation camps in company firms and common donors. “The demand is high in all blood banks as voluntary camps are not being held. While we are able to manage, we do not have any buffer stocks. We are supplying as and when blood is collected. Apart from several government hospitals, we also regularly support 100 thalassemia children,” he mentioned.
Lions Blood Bank, Vijayanagar, the place over 1,250 items are collected month-to-month, has been capable of mobilise solely round 800 items a month every in March and April. “This is a problem every summer when colleges are closed. But this year, donations have been hit across all blood centres due to elections and the severe heat,” mentioned Manoj Kumar, managing trustee of the financial institution.
Not alarming
Acknowledging blood collection has been hit to some extent as a result of elections and heatwave conditions, Nagaraja N.M., Director of Karnataka State Blood Transfusion Council, informed The Hindu that the issue is just not alarming within the authorities blood centres. “We have regular walk-in donors and are able to meet the demand. The situation will stabilise after mid-May when educational institutions, where most of the voluntary blood camps are held, reopen,” he mentioned.
The official acknowledged that 10,051 camps had been held within the monetary 12 months (2023-2024) and that 9,73,677 items had been collected, exceeding the goal of 8,15,402 items.