Stock dips at two blood banks in Lko
LUCKNOW: The availability of blood units in at least two blood banks in the state capital has dipped below the usual due to a fall in voluntary donations amid the Covid-19 pandemic, according to experts.
For instance, King George’s Medical University (KGMU) has only 30 units of A positive blood left in its blood bank and the stock may not last beyond 48 hours if more blood of this group is not donated. Similarly, the blood bank has about 70 units of the AB positive group.
“Voluntary donation has gone down. The stock, which used to be around 2,000 units on normal days, has come down to 600 units at present,” said Prof Tulika Chandra, head of the department of transfusion medicine at KGMU.
Several categories of patients, such as the destitute, pregnant women, and those with blood disorders, have to be given blood even without an exchange as a delay can be dangerous. Hence, voluntary blood donation was the only way to keep the stock adequate, said Prof Chandra.
Transaction-wise, the KGMU blood bank is the biggest in the city as it issues about 200 units of blood components every day.
Similar issues are being faced by at least another blood bank in the state capital.
“We have recorded a fall of about 30% in voluntary donations. Perhaps, people are apprehensive of going to a medical establishment, but gradually it will rise. We hope to see more voluntary donations in July,” said Dr Anoop Agrawal, former secretary of Lucknow Nursing Home Association (LNHA) that runs a blood bank in Niralanagar. LNHA blood bank’s average stock used to be 900 units but it has come down to 600 now, said
Dr Agrawal.
“The ideal rate of voluntary donation should be 100%,” said Dr Sandip Kapoor, director, Healthcity hospital in Gomtinagar. “Voluntary donation is a key factor in blood banks. As several units donated by attendants in exchange for blood given to patients are found infected and can’t be used, voluntary donation fills up the gap,” said Dr Abhishek Shukla, secretary general, Association of International Doctors.
Other blowod banks in the city are not facing a shortage as utilisation is low due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr Srikesh Singh, spokesperson for Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, said there was no crisis at the Lohia Institute.
Nevertheless, some groups and individuals are trying to help. Mission Humanity Foundation organised a blood donation camp for KGMU at Islamia College. In all, 39 people donated blood.
Similarly, Pradip Gangwar, president of KGMU employees’ association, donated blood with his friends on his birthday. “Birthday is a special occasion. In this present pandemic, what can be better than donating blood to make the occasion even more special. All can make it a point to donate on their birthday,” said Gangwar.