20 January 2009
By Rajiv Sharma
Mumbai, India
According to Vinay Shetty of Think Foundation, a large number of citizens have been donating blood ever since the terrorist attack in November. “Following the carnage, more and more people started donating blood at various blood banks,” he said. In fact, the situation was such that many of the donors had to be sent back as there was no point in having a surplus. “Groups like, Tarun Mitra Mandal, organised major drives recently, and at every camp, more than 2000 units of blood were collected,” Shetty added. As a result, all big blood banks are stocked to the brim and there is no need for having any major camp at the moment.
Blood collected has to be used within 33 days, beyond which it goes waste. “The idea is to prevent such a situation. One way to do that is to prevent people from donating,” Shetty said.
Blood donation camps will again be held on Republic Day and that will add to the stock further. In fact, organisers plan to send some of this surplus blood to places outside Mumbai, which may not have adequate stock.
Neelam Nijhara, in-charge at the Raheja Hospital, said stocks at hospital blood banks was enough at the moment. “In fact, it will be a better idea to donate blood in February, which will help us tide over the crucial period of holidays in schools and colleges,” he said.
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