Civil Hospital sees low turnout of blood donors

Sameer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 14

A meager number of blood donors turned up during a blood donation camp organised to mark World Blood Donor Day at the Civil Hospital on Friday.

The organisers attributed the low turnout to hot weather conditions and lack of awareness among the donors.

A total of 25 units of blood were collected during the camp, which was jointly organised by Young Blood Group and the Health Department. Last year, as many as 30 units of blood were collected on World Blood Donor Day. Besides, blood was issued to the needy at the camp.

Officials of the Health Department at the Blood Bank unit in the Civil Hospital said they got a good response from donors when blood donation camps were being organised at colleges, universities or academic institutions as youngsters were more inclined towards donating blood as compared to the adults.

Earlier, the blood donation camp was inaugurated by Civil Surgeon Dr Hari Narain Singh and Senior Medical Officer Dr Satish Goyal in the presence of doctors and staff members of the Blood Bank unit at the Civil Hospital.

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Dr Inderdeep Singh, Blood Transfusion Officer, Blood Bank, Civil Hospital, said, “Considering that the blood donation camp was organised on the government hospital premises, 25 units of blood is a reasonable volume. We also get a good response when camps are organised in academic institutions.”

Dr Inderdeep added, “Sultry weather conditions are another reason that many donors have opted to stay indoors on Friday. But, I want to clarify that contrary to the largely held misconception, it is perfectly safe to donate blood during summers or in hot weather conditions. There are absolutely no side-effects or harm in it.”

Man donates blood for 78th time

A city-based blood donor, Ramesh Mehta (57), donated blood for the 78th times on Friday. 

Mehta visited the Blood Bank unit at Max Super Speciality Hospital in the morning and donated blood there. 

Mehta is a trader of readymade clothes in the city and also a founder member of a city-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Aasra Welfare Society.