Awareness programme cum blood donation camp organized
Shillong: Over 90 percent of the patients admitted in Ganesh Das Hospital have hardly 2-4 litres of blood in their body against the normal average of 4.7-5 litres and the hesitance of the family members of the patients to donate blood has made the situation worse, Medical Superintendent (MS) Join DHS of Ganesh Das hospital, Dr E Lyngskor said.
“It is very difficult for the hospital authorities to force the patients’ family members to donate blood as the fear psychosis has not yet been eliminated from their minds which put us in great difficulty”, Dr Lyngskor said.
Dr Lyngskor was addressing at an awareness programme cum blood donation camp organized by the Ai Jingim voluntary donor organization at Regional Blood Bank Pasteur Institute here on Saturday.
Pointing out that the hospital is filled with pregnant women almost every day, the hospital’s MS said there were incidents where a pregnant woman died after delivery due to less blood in her body.
“That is why it becomes very important for people to understand the importance of donating blood and saving someone’s life”, she added.
She also mentioned that the rural populace always has a perception that the blood level in the body could be increased by eating raw vegetables, which is true to some extend but the question that arises is “What have they been eating all this while?”
“I am not saying that taking green and healthy vegetable wouldn’t in increasing the level of blood in our body but in dire situations, it becomes compulsory for people to understand the importance of donating blood”, Dr Lyngskor said.
Meanwhile, stating that the voluntary blood donation in the state has only touched 49 percent, Dr Lyngskor said that much is needed to be done to reach the target which is 100 percent.
It may be mentioned that a Voluntary Blood Donation (VBD) Percentage in Meghalaya is only 11.05 percent of the target and 52.18 percent of the total collection from April to May 2012 which indicated that Meghalaya is falling way below the average acquiring second from the bottom out of all the states in the country.
Nation-wise, the state is second from the bottom and the position remains the same even in the region-wise.
Later, Dr Lyngskor felicitated around 50 members of the Ai Jingim voluntary donor organization for their selfless acts while calling upon them to inspire those who shy away from donating blood. The awareness programme was followed by a blood donation camp which was participated by all the members of the Ai Jingim voluntary donor organization.