Covid curbs hit blood banks hard

Donors apprehensive of visiting hospitals treating Covid suspects

With severe restrictions imposed in the state in the wake of Covid-19, blood banks in many parts of the state are not getting enough voluntary donors causing shortage of blood.

Since the patients tested Covid positive are undergoing treatment at the medical college hospitals, a section of people have apprehensions regarding visiting such facilities. These include voluntary blood donors.

With schools and colleges closed, the number of volunteers coming for blood donation through National Service Scheme, Student Police Cadet, NCC and various clubs has also come down drastically.

Health officials fear that if the situation continues in this manner shortage of blood will start affecting emergency surgery, accident victims, trauma care facilities, labour rooms

“Yes there is panic among people because of the fake messages and scare being created on social media. The caretakers of the patients are finding it difficult to get blood at a short notice from the blood bank,” said a relative of a patient admitted to the medical college hospital here.

Health authorities, however, said the situation is under control and there is no need for any panic at this stage. “We are issuing statements to allay the fears of the people. Visiting hospitals or medical colleges does not involve any risk if you take precautions. Only if a person comes into direct contact with an infected person or the objects that he has used, one can get the infection. One needs to wash hands with sanitisers, use masks and also avoid touching mouth, face, nose,” said a health worker. The authorities are now planning to make alternative arrangements for blood donation.

In other development, the relatives of a patient who died of cardiac arrest in Kottayam accused the hospital authorities of harassment and negligence. The patient whose son was under quarantine for Covid-19, had complained of uneasiness and low sugar levels. The relatives called up Kottayam General Gospital for ambulance but they were kept waiting for nearly 45 minutes. Later, the patient was rushed to Kottayam Medical College in a private vehicle but his life could not be saved. The hospital authorities said that the patient died of cardiac arrest.

Since the patient belonged Chengala, a place which had reported Covid–19 cases and was father of the youth under quarantine, the hospital authorities should have taken precautionary measures. But they didn’t take any steps, allege relatives.

Even for post-mortem examination, the relatives were made to buy gloves, mask and a kit costing `1,300.