Ahead of the World Blood Donors' Day approaching on 14 June, the civic body's health department aims to encourage citizens to voluntarily donate blood. The department says there's a need to reduce replacement blood donation and for more people to include themselves.
Every year in Mumbai, around 3.5 lakh units of blood is required for patients. This year a few NGOs will be seen celebrating this day by forming a human chain near Link Road in order to create more awareness in public and make them understand the significance of voluntary blood donation. The shelf life of donated blood is 42 days.
Speaking about its awareness, Dr Padmaja Keskar, BMC's executive health officer, said, "People should come forward to donate blood at least once in three months. There will be no scarcity of blood if people come forward to donate regularly as per the eligibility criteria. Donation of blood is necessary and helpful to the patients because it can not be manufactured, it can only be donated. While donating blood, people don't have anything to lose."
For blood donation, the age limit is 65 years while for platelet donation, the age limit is 60 years. Blood donation can be done once in three months.
"During summer and Diwali, there is a shortage of blood in blood banks due to which more people should come forward to donate blood voluntarily on regular basis," Dr Keskar.
Recently, the State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) has written to the city's blood banks to give regular details of the blood stocks in the blood banks. Every year before summer and Diwali vacation in schools and colleges, SBTC encourages blood banks to organise blood camps in the city to overcome shortage. Overall, there are 59 blood banks registered with SBTC across the city.
REACHING OUT FOR A CAUSE
- Age limit for blood donatio is 65 years while for platelet donation is 60 years. Blood can be donated once in three months.
- SBTC has written to the city’s blood banks to give regular details of the stocks in the blood banks
