Voluntary blood donations rise,‘competitive drives’ discouraged

However,mega blood donation drives to simply notch up records are being discouraged. Circulars have been sent to blood banks regarding National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) guidelines that restrict the number of blood units that can be collected in a single camp to 500 units a day. This is to reduce wastage of blood and encourage healthy donors.

Officials admitted that there have been competitive blood donation drives where incentives are offered to donors. “This defeats the purpose of donating blood,which should be looked at as a gift of life,” said Dr Dileep Wani,chairperson of Jan Kalyan chain of blood banks.

Since blood has four components,a single unit can save three or more lives. “Blood and its components,such as plasma and platelets,have a shelf life within which they need to be transfused,failing which they have to be discarded,” said Dr Snehal Mujumdar,in charge of Ruby Hall blood bank,adding that they conduct 10-12 blood donation camps every month.

Efforts are now underway to make blood easily accessible in rural places.While there are 291 blood banks in the state,204 have the capacity to provide platelets — demand for which is increasing as people plan surgeries for cancer treatment. “There is a need for quality management of the blood collected,” Jadhav said.

Ram Bangad,founder of NGO Raktaache Naate that conducts voluntary blood donation camps,said it is essential that the place where the drive is conducted is hygienic. He also said that camps are essential as despite the two-fold increase in blood collection,the deficit continues with increasing demand.