Shortage of blood in Udupi blood bank

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 11 July 2012: Udupi district which is in the first place in voluntary blood donation is currently having serious blood shortage. This is because, due to the rainy season the number of blood donors has been reduced and the demand for blood from the patients has increased. In the blood bank of district hospital currently requisition is coming for average 20 – 25 units of blood per day, but even 7 – 8 units of blood is not being collected!

 

Every year district wide hundreds of blood donation camps are being conducted in Schools, Colleges and in associations. But since it is the rainy season now, it is becoming very difficult to conduct the blood donation camps. The Colleges have just reopened and the extracurricular activities such as blood donation camps etc. have not yet started. Overall, due to less number of blood donation camps there is shortage of blood in the blood banks of the government and private hospitals.

 

 

But even though it is the rainy season, the demand for the blood from the patience does not reduce. In proportion to the demand the blood is not being collected from the donors and that is why this shortage in the blood banks. Giving this as reason the private hospitals are charging thousands of rupees charges per unit of blood, or else they will give the blood of required group to the patient only when a donor from the patient side donates alternative blood.

 

In January 1,214 unit blood was collected at district hospital blood bank and they issued 714 unit blood for the patients. In the month of May 547 unit blood was collected but 714 unit blood was issued. In June 559 unit blood was collected and 672 unit blood is issued.

 

This problem arises in rainy season every year, but this time the problem has become severe. This problem will continue for another two months. But before the situation become worse, the youngsters need to voluntarily come forward and donate blood in district hospital and in that way they need to help the patients who are in life and death situation, said Udupi district hospital blood bank department head Dr. Sharath Kumar.

 

Vishu Shetty a social worker residing in Ambalpady Udupi has always been the helping hand at the hour of need. When he came to know that there is shortage of blood in the district hospital blood bank, he immediately gathered 50 youths on Tuesday and arranged blood donation, solving the blood shortage problem for the time being. Vishu Shetty who has been donating blood since the last 15 years has been involved in various social works such as admitting orphan patients to hospital, arranging financial help, conducting Vanamahotsava and so on. The society is need of more such people.