Severe blood shortage in the city

Aurangabad, March 14:

Every year, the city experiences a shortage of blood in April. However, this year the fear of corona and the declining number of blood donation camps have resulted in a shortage of blood. The doctors have appealed to the blood donors to donate blood before vaccination as they will have to wait for 28 days for the second dose of corona vaccination.

The number of blood donation camps has reduced drastically. There were only two camps held on Shiva Jayanti and only 18 bags of blood were collected in camps. The camps are now completely closed due to partial lockdown. Only three to four donors come to the GMCH blood bank every day to donate blood voluntarily. The GMCH needs 70 to 80 bags of blood a day for patients with sickle cell, anaemia, thalassemia, pregnant women and for various operations. Due to the shortage, blood banks are requesting blood donors and camp organizers to come forward. However, the donors are not ready to donate blood due to fear of corona. We will also request the police and district administration for organising camps, the GMCH blood bank officials said.

Donors who are eligible for blood donation should donate blood first and then get vaccinated. Because the second dose can be taken 28 days after the first dose, said Dr Manjusha Kulkarni, medical director Dattaji Bhale Blood Bank.

There is a continuous shortage of blood. Camp organizers fear the police. However, we will seek the cooperation of the administration for organizing a blood donation camp following all the rules of Covid-19, said Hanuman Rule, public relations officer, divisional blood bank, GMCH.

The blood donation camps in industrial areas were less this time. Currently, there are no camps being held in the city. Some camps took place in rural areas. So there is a shortage of blood, said Chandrakala Ahire, manager, Dattaji Bhale Blood Bank.