KOZHIKODE: Kerala Blood Donors Forum data show women are reluctant to donate blood voluntarily, and experts attribute this to the lack of awareness and misconceptions about the loss of blood during menstruation. The growing trend of tattooing has also contributed to the drop in blood donors as people who have had a tattoo within four months are unable to give blood.
At the State-level inauguration of the World Blood Donors Day on Tuesday at Malabar Christian College, they also pointed out other factors. Mayor Thottathil Raveendran stressed the need for more donors in the city and urged residents' associations to form blood donors club.
“We know lives have got busier now, working longer, commuting harder and spending more time online. Hence, residents' associations should create awareness among people," he said. Kerala Blood Donors Forum member Suhail Ahamed said there were no issues for women donating blood even during their menstrual cycle. It is only during the pregnancy and the breastfeeding time doctors advise against it.
