Acute shortage of blood in state
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 17 2011:
Blood banks in the state require 20,000 units of blood in a year but only 2000 units are available.
Lack of voluntary blood donors is behind the heavy shortage of blood in these banks as against the heavy demand for blood.
An official source said that blood available in the three licensed blood banks at RIMS hospital, JNIMS hospital and Churachandpur district hospital are mostly collected from voluntary blood donors.
The source said that despite the awareness campaign both by government agencies and NGOs, the number of people who volunteer to donate blood is still not upto the satisfactory level.
Blood donated by the voluntary blood donors is utilized in saving lives in many critical conditions.
Blood transfusions can also prevent serious illness in patients suffering from violence and injury, road accidents, child birth related complications and other serious conditions.
Considering this, blood occupies a vital space in any Health Service delivery system of a state or country.
With regard to blood donors, the source maintained that the majority of blood donors in the state are men and very few women volunteer to donate blood.
Blood donation camps are conducted by NGOs recognized by the government in association with the superintendents of blood banks.
State government, in the meantime, has started work to set up blood banks in every district HQs with the objective to cope with the increasing demand for blood.
These blood banks are expected to come up within this current year, the source said.
Apart from this, steps for installation of blood storage facilities in community and primary health centres are also being taken up.