Time for blood banks to go online, donors petition PM
ALLAHABAD: While availability of blood is crucial in handling medical emergencies, equally significant is the timing. To help ease the process of getting a unit or two of blood, activists involved in regular and voluntary donation want all blood banks to go online
“It’s the digital era. If the data of availability in blood banks is maintained online we can save many from running from pillar to post to get the all-crucial blood in time, and in the process save many lives,” said Rajiv Mishra, executive coordinator, Federation
› It’s the digital era. If the data of availability in blood banks is maintained online we can save many from running from pillar to post to get the allcrucial blood in time, and in the process save many lives
RAJIV MISHRA, activist
of Blood Donor Organisation of India. His group, which is holding a 46-day blood donation camp in the city, wants Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene on the issue.
“We have written a letter to the Prime Minister and have also petitioned him through a series of tweets. The idea was suggested by one of our members when we gathered to observe Voluntary Blood Donation Day on October 1,” said Mishra, a resident of George Town.
“The PM office has replied, assuring us of better days in the offing,” claimed Mishra, who has donated blood over 50 times and is at the fore front of this movement.
His group also wants the price and stock availability of blood and platelets to be updated regu- larly. “If the status is available on the click of the mouse, people from nearby districts can also approach blood banks in case of emergencies,” he suggested.
“The blood banks in UP need to be organised and governed in a better way if the common man is truly to benefit from them. Today those in dire need of blood or platelets face a lot of problems but a few steps by the government can go a long way in improving the situation and stem the malpractices of middlemen and paid donors,” said Mishra, while sharing the tweets to UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath and the PM on the issue.
“The system needs to improve. If a blood donor donates blood in one district, it should reflect in the system so that in times of need blood can be provided to a patient in any other nearby district. Today this facility is restricted just within the district,” he claimed. His association also wants the government to include blood donation science in CBSE and UP Board syllabus. “It will make students aware of the importance of blood donation,” he said. Blood donation points should also be open in universities, suggested Amit Banerjee, an 86-time blood donor and working president of Federation of Blood Donor Organisation of India. “Blood is priceless as only a man or woman can donate it to a fellow human being and save life. However, middlemen, theft and even red-tapism mar the system and this need to be improved. CCTVs need to be installed in all blood banks and their records need to be regularly audited,” added Banerjee.
A 106-time blood donor and a resident of old city area Capt (retd) SMM Naqvi, 47, believes that a high-level meeting by the health minister or the chief minister with blood donors should be held as early as possible to discuss the issue. “Such initiatives will also go a long way in promot- ing blood donation in the state and sensitising officials and citizens of its importance,” he said.