Corona scare: Dip in blood donation sparks concern of crisis across state

Kolkata: State Health department officials have expressed concern over a possible crisis of blood in the state as COVID 19 outbreak has left blood donors sceptical and blood donation camps have also seen a significant dip in the number of donors.

After the state government issued an order to close down the educational institutions across the state and also urged people to avoid public gathering, potential blood donors are now reluctant to visit blood donation camps in fear of being affected with the virus. It has been reflected in the recent blood donation camps where comparatively less amount of blood units have been collected.

According to a senior Health department official, if the situation continues it might have an adverse impact on the steady supply of blood to various blood banks, hospitals and medical colleges in the recent future. The Health officials also urged donors not to get swayed by the Coronavirus scare.

"People must adopt precautionary measures and the Health department has already issued necessary guidelines in this regard. Do not unnecessarily spread panic among the people. None has been tested positive for the virus so far in the state. There is no connection between Coronvirus with blood donation camps. We urge blood donors to come forward and donate blood. If blood donors turn out in small numbers, it may complicate the situation and the state may face an imminent crisis," a senior Health official said.

It was learnt from sources that over the past few days blood units collected from the camps by the state-run blood banks decreased considerably. Some of the blood banks from the city and its adjoining areas collected less than 10 units of blood from each camp held recently in various parts of the state. Usually, a blood bank collects around 50 units of blood from one camp.

Incidentally, the director of Health services, Dr Ajay Chakraborty has already issued instructions saying that blood donors must come forward and donate their blood. He also clarified that there is no relation between Coronavirus and blood donation camp.

Various NGOs working in this field may soon urge the Health secretary Vivek Kumar to look into the matter. D Ashis, secretary of Medical Bank, a social organisation said: "The blood banks have already received a hit and situation may further escalate. Patients suffering from haemophilia and thalassemia and accident victims require emergency blood. People are coming to us for blood donors as there has been a crisis in blood. Blood donation is a scientific process where the donors are checked before being allowed to donate blood. If the crisis prevails, touts and corrupt practices will be rampant. There is a yearly requirement of 15 lakh units in the state but the supply remains around 11 lakh units.