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Dengue patients hit hard due to lack of blood donors

People are not coming forward to donate blood voluntarily unlike in the past at hospitals due to the prevailing covid pandemic

Adilabad: Shortage of blood and less stock in blood banks are likely to hit dengue patients across the state in the coming days. People are not coming forward to donate blood voluntarily unlike in the past at hospitals due to the prevailing covid pandemic.

Dengue patients, whenever their platelets count falls, can be saved by administering platelets separated from the blood in the blood banks. Dengue cases are on the rise in the flood-affected areas due to water contamination and requirement of blood is more to provide to patients in government and private hospitals. Platelets play a crucial role in treating dengue patients. Nearly 150 dengue positive cases were reported in Adilabad district in the last one week and dengue patients are thronging the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and private hospitals for treatment.

Many people used to donate blood voluntarily before the Covid pandemic but the prevailing situation is not permitting to do so now. People who got vaccinated should donate their blood only after 60 days. The Covid situation has also hit the blood donations camps and voluntary donation of blood has come down drastically.

Nearly 20-25 units of blood are required every day at RIMS but 15-20 units of blood are in storage in the blood bank at RIMS. Already, it is facing a huge shortage of blood and is unable to provide to the patients in need.

The blood bank staff is insisting on donation of blood by the attendants of patients in order to get the blood for patients following the huge shortage. There is no private blood bank in Adilabad district and even patients undergoing treatment at private hospitals are also depending on the blood bank of RIMS.

The RIMS is charging some price for providing blood to outside patients while giving free to the patients undergoing treatment in RIMS. It is high time for the medical and health department to conduct blood donation camps and encourage the youth to donate blood voluntarily, say medical experts.

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