With the rains, come dreaded diseases like dengue fever and leptospirosis, which launch a direct attack on the platelet count of the body.
What follows is a mad rush to blood banks in search of platelet or platelet donors. This year, however, will be different, thanks to Lifesavers’ Club which was formed by Doctors For You, an NGO, in 2007.
The Club, which now has 250 registered donors, keeps a record of platelet donors and even arranges for donations. “Last year, there was a sudden acute shortage of blood platelet at KEM, which made us think about starting an organisation that helps needy patients,” said Dr Ravikant Singh, spokesperson for Doctors For You.
“There was also a serious shortage of platelet across the city post the 26/7 deluge, when cases of leptospirosis and dengue shot up,” recalled Dr Gunjan Sharma, member, Doctors For You.
With the city reporting two dengue deaths and its first leptospirosis death this monsoon, doctors say that that they are better prepared to tackle the demand for blood platelet this year.
“Most of our donors are students from medical and engineering colleges. Platelet have a shelf-life of five days, so the donors are called whenever there is a need,” said Singh
However, the only hurdle is that platelet apheresis machines, through which platelet are collected, are available only at leading hospitals like KEM, Tata Memorial, Jaslok, Hinduja, Red Cross, etc. There are 12 machines in Mumbai and three in Thane.
