RU plans health project for anaemic students

Worried over the decreased number of students eligible for blood donation in the University of Rajasthan, the administration is planning to start a health project in collaboration with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s ‘Anaemia Free India Campaign’. A meeting to plan the year-long project will be held in the first week of October on the varsity campus.

A blood donation camp was organised in the university on September 25. Out of 1,500 students present, only 217 were found eligible to donate blood, haemoglobin deficiency being cited as a major factor.

Dean, students welfare, Sarina Kalia, said the project will involve teachers of the university along with Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur. The project is expected to start with 2,000 students where periodic haemoglobin tests will be conducted followed by counselling. Supplements such as iron tablets would also be administered to the students. “We were worried about haemoglobin deficiency, primarily among female students. This was why several of them could not donate blood,” said Kalia.

Doctor Rachna Nair from SMS hospital said lack of awareness is a reason for ineligibility for blood donation. “There were female students who wanted to donate blood during menstrual cycle. We did not allow them,” said Nair.

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