Pune is facing a severe shortage of blood and platelets amidst a rise in vector-borne and viral infections, compounded by a lackluster response to blood donation drives. Despite directives from the State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) to conduct blood donation camps from September 17 to October 1, only 1,354 donors have come forward in Pune district over two weeks.
Ram Bangad, founder of the NGO Raktache Nate, noted that major hospitals and blood banks such as Sahyadri, Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital, Sassoon General Hospital, Inlaks and Budhrani Hospital, and Aundh District Hospital are experiencing critical shortages. The combination of illnesses and the observance of Pitru Paksha has further dampened donor turnout.
Pune district houses four government and 42 private blood banks, most of which are running critically low on platelets. Typically, a healthy person has a blood platelet count ranging from 20,000 to 450,000 per microliter of blood. However, about 80-90% of Dengue patients have counts below 100,000, and 10-20% fall to 20,000 or lower, necessitating urgent platelet transfusions.
Mahendra Kendre, assistant director of the SBTC, explained that the blood donation camp dates were set by central government directives. The response was tepid as many camps coincided with the Ganpati festival. Moreover, blood donation camps are voluntary and organized based on current blood needs to prevent wastage.
Dr. Nisha Teli, in charge of the District Blood Bank, highlighted the persistent shortage throughout the month. Despite high demand, donor response has been poor, exacerbating the overall shortage across the city’s blood banks. Two camps conducted on September 23 and 29 managed to collect only 118 blood bags.
This ongoing crisis underscores the urgent need for more donors to step forward and alleviate the strain on Pune’s healthcare system.
Original Story https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/pune-news/pune-facing-acute-blood-shortage-blood-donation-camps-get-poor-response-101727721579439.html
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