Acute lack of A, AB group blood in the city!

Team Udayavani, May 10, 2019, 2:05 PM IST

Mangaluru: A few hospitals in the city are facing a major shortage in blood. In that too, blood belonging to A and AB blood groups is next to zero. Those in need of this blood group are facing much trouble.

There is a need for Red Blood Corpuscles (RBC), but it too is facing a shortage. Presently, Wenlock regional blood bank centre has isolated 677 bags of plasma, 249 bags of red blood corpuscles and 23 bags of platelet cells. It has also isolated 200 units of O+ group and 100 units of B+ group. It currently zero units of A and AB blood group. There are very units of O-, AB- and B- blood groups available. The life span of RBC’s is for 35 days and hence cannot be stored for longer periods. RBC’s will be provided until there is need.

Presently, there is a greater demand for B+, O+, A+ and AB+ blood groups. But since there is no stock f A+ and AB+ blood groups, blood requirement is not being fulfilled. Besides, since epidemic diseases like malaria and dengue have reduced, the demand for platelet cells has also reduced. As there isn’t much demand for plasma, it is not facing a shortage.

400 units of blood required

400 units of blood are required daily in the city. Patients suffering from Thalassemia require 7-8 units of bloods a day, thereby requiring 250-300 units of blood monthly. Now, due to the acute shortage of blood, it is very difficult to fulfill the requirements of these patients.

A few hospitals in the city including Wenlock and Lady Goshen hospital are facing an acute blood shortage. Wenlock blood bank has already requested various institutions and associations to conduct blood donation camps. On Thursday, a blood donation camp was conducted at Infosys campus under the leadership of Wenlock and KMC. Altogether 220 units of blood have been collected through this blood donation camp, inform Wenlock blood bank officials.

The reason behind the lack of blood is that schools and colleges are on vacation. Since, students mostly participate in blood donation camps; a shortage in blood supply comes to the helm during the vacations. In comparison to previous years, this year around 30 blood donation camps have been conducted so far. This too is a reason behind the shortage. Henceforth, attention should be provided towards conducting even more blood donation camps, say officials.

93 Thalassemia patients

At present there are 93 Thalassemia patients admitted at Wenlock hospital. The patients affected by this disorder suffer excessive destruction of red blood cells consequently leading to anemia. Since these patients need blood every month, they are heavily dependent upon donors’ blood. These patients require 7-8 units of blood daily.

953 units collected

Every year, Mangaluru requires around 80.000 units of blood. Sometimes, blood is collected up to requirement, sometimes there is a lack. The months of April-May face a greater lack in blood supply. In 2018, 51 blood donation camps were held at various locations in the district and 8,376 units of blood was collected. Close to 30 blood donation camps were conducted till May 9^th 2019 and 953 units of blood was collected.

Collection is not on par with demand

“There is an acute shortage of A, AB blood groups. Since the collection is not on par with the demand, blood shortage is being faced. Already, requests have been sent to various organizations and institutions. A blood donation camp was held at Infosys on Thursday,” informed Dr Sharath Kumar, Head of Wenlock Hospital Blood Bank

Present state of Wenlock blood bank reserve

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