Blood crisis in season of festivals

The Regional Blood Transfusion Centre at NBMCH

TT, Siliguri, Oct. 28: The blood transfusion centre of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) has only 25 units left as it has not been able to organise blood donation camps in schools and colleges which had been closed for the Pujas.

Mridumoy Das, the director of the Regional Blood Transfusion Centre (RBTC), said today that there were no stocks of negative-group blood and only five-six units of each of the positive groups were available.

The hospital has not been able to organise camps since October 10.

“We are facing an acute blood crisis as there were no blood donation camps for the past three weeks. The last camp organised for NBMCH was on October 10. This situation has led to a decline in the blood-stock and the current situation is that we have only 25 units left with us. The stock for negative blood groups has exhausted and there are only five-six units each in the positive blood category which will get over soon,” said Das.

The RBTC usually keeps a stock of over 500 units of blood and supplies daily 70 units to the NBMCH and to over 30 private nursing homes in and around Siliguri.

“School and college students comprises the majority of the blood donors. However, all educational institutions are closed since Durga Puja and youths are busy enjoying the festivities. This is one of the main reason of not organising the blood donation camp since the past three weeks,” the RBTC director said.

Das said he has already approached the voluntary blood donors’ organisations to conduct camps but they had been unable to do so because of the pujas.

“This crisis has arisen because of Durga Puja and we apprehend that it will continue till Kali Puja and Diwali which is two weeks away. We have appealed to the blood donor’s organisations to conduct some camps but they have been unable to do so because people are busy with festivities,” said Das.