Jalpaiguri, Oct. 5 -- With Puja approaching and blood donations falling short of demand, Jalpaiguri Medical College and Hospital has introduced special measures to ensure timely blood supplies for thalassemia patients and pregnant women requiring emergency transfusions.
According to the medical college blood bank, around 60-70 units of blood are supplied daily, amounting to nearly 1,500-1,800 units a month. However, collections from donation camps remain significantly low. Around 300 units were collected from 18 camps last month, with some camps collecting only five to six units.
The blood bank has urged clubs and voluntary organisations to organise more donation camps, particularly ahead of the Puja season. As part of the new initiative, families of thalassemia patients are being connected with blood donation organisations at the block level. A list of patients and contact numbers of donor organisations has been prepared and handed over to the thalassemia unit so that blood can be arranged quickly when required.
For pregnant women, authorities are registering the names of five potential donors with compatible blood groups from their families or nearby areas. These donors can be contacted immediately in case of an emergency.
Dr Anindya Prakash Ghosh, medical officer in charge of the blood bank, said: "Blood is kept separately to meet the emergency requirements of thalassemia patients and pregnant women who are about to deliver. But given the current situation, there could be difficulties during the Puja period. That is why special measures are being taken."
He said the new micro-level system would reduce the burden on families searching for blood during emergencies.
However, there is no alternative to increasing the number of blood donation camps, Dr Ghosh said, appealing to clubs, voluntary organisations and regular donors to
come forward.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.