Delhiites dial Muktsar volunteers for plasma

Blurb: Shortage at blood bank; donors urged to come forward

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, April 26

With the situation worsening in Delhi, many volunteers in Muktsar district are receiving phone calls from the national capital seeking plasma for Covid-affected patients.

Deepak Garg, a volunteer of Jai Baba Khetarpal Blood Sewa Society, who arranges blood through WhatsApp groups, said: “I have got nearly 50 phone calls, mostly from Delhi, in the past one month requesting for plasma. People are struggling to get plasma from those having recovered.”

“One of our volunteers who recently recovered from Covid donated plasma in Delhi. Two more Covid survivors have agreed to donate plasma. We urge those who have recovered to donate plasma and help save lives.”

Ankush Kumar, another social activist, said: “I get around five phone calls daily from Delhi and Chandigarh. Recently, two Muktsar residents were admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh, and needed plasma. We arranged it for them.”

Sources in the Health Department said the blood bank at the local Civil Hospital was fast running out of stock. “The bank has nearly 30 units. There is no stock of some blood groups. We are now issuing one unit of blood against a unit of another group,” said sources.

They added the closure of educational institutes too had affected camps as youths were a major source of blood donation.

Some donors said the pandemic had adversely affected blood donation as volunteers were not coming forward.

“People are scared of going to hospitals fearing Covid. Some camps may be organised at other places so that those willing could come forward and donate blood,” they added.

Bq

50 calls in month

“I got nearly 50 phone calls, mostly from Delhi, in the past one month requesting for plasma. People are struggling to get plasma from those having recovered”

— Deepak Garg, a volunteer