By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Voluntary blood donation in the State in 2016-17 has recorded only marginal increase as the Health Department is still struggling to spread awareness as well as clear the myths about health issues.
The percentage increase in voluntary blood donation in 2016-17 is 46.50 as against 45.52 per cent in 2015-16, said R. Allya, Member Secretary of Meghalaya State Blood Transfusion (MSBT). It was 40.75 per cent in 2014-15, 54.57 per cent in 2013-14 and 56.48 per cent in 2012-2013, he added.
Total unit of blood collected in the past five years is 14,209, which includes 6,579 units from voluntary blood donators (VBDs) and 7,630 units through replacement donors.
She informed that the trend of voluntary blood donation in Meghalaya is less compared to other states.
Allya said misconceptions have led to lesser number of VBDs. “People often say that they will become weak and that they are poor,” she told The Shillong Times.
The most common misconception is the belief that donating blood makes a person weak.
Allaying such fears, she said there are 5-6 litres of blood in a person’s body out of which 350 ml-450 ml is donated as per the person’s weight and the liquid part of the blood is replenished.
“The main issue is to have safe blood and blood from the VDBs is found to be the safest,” she said.
A person who donates blood is a giver of life, she said even as she emphasized on the need to mobilise more people to sensitise them about voluntary blood donation.
Highlighting the benefits of blood donation she said, “Regular blood donation is beneficial in many ways. Those who donate blood regularly have less chances of suffering from heart attacks and strokes.”
She added, “A person can donate blood after every three months. VBDs should satisfy certain criteria. They should be above 18 years, weight should be 45 kgs or more and hemoglobin level should be 12.5 gm per cent.”
Informing that it is mandatory for blood banks to have a licence, she said, “There has to be adequate amount of safe and tested blood. Each unit of blood is tested stringently.”
She informed that tested blood is known as screened blood and blood which is still not tested is known as unscreened blood. The doctors ensure that the blood is free from any infection as the ‘donors are tested properly’.
She said that donors are also examined to ensure that there is no ill-health.
Blood donation cuts across barriers of race and culture and on this note, Allya said that there are several voluntary donation organisations of all groups – faith based, defense forces, NGOs. Commenting on whether emergency situations can be tackled with ease, Allya said that there is a need for more VDBs to meet the emergency requirements of blood banks.
“The Blood bank can meet the challenges of emergencies. Till now, we can meet the challenge,” she added.
When asked whether there is an imbalance in the demand and supply of blood, she said, “At least in the blood bank there is no imbalance in the demand and supply as of now.”
When asked on whether people with body tattoos are permitted to donate blood, Allya said that at the Regional Blood Bank in Pasteur Hills, it is must for the donors to register themselves by bringing along two passport size photographs and a photo of their tattoo before donating blood.
“After registration of their body tattoos they can donate blood after six months. We are concerned about the kind of needles used in the tattoo parlour,” she added.
When asked on the number of State-run blood banks in the state, she informed that there is one each in Shillong, Jowai and Tura, respectively.