CHENNAI: Though the number of donors have been increasing, the blood banks in the city are facing shortage of blood mainly during summer. The solution is to have “more blood donation camps to be conducted during summer,” said Dr K Selvarajan, Professor and Head of Transfusion Medicine, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.In the sidelines of a mega blood donation camp organised by the apprentices of the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, on Sunday, Dr Selvarajan said that generally, most of the blood donation camps were conducted by students during working days, due to which more units of blood used to come to blood banks on those days. Contrary to that, the number of blood donation camps during summer was less resulting in shortage of blood.“Unlike emergency operations, pre-planned operations are normally scheduled according to the patients’ convenience,” Dr Selvarajan noted. “Most prefer surgeries during their vacation period which is summer. So we need more units of blood during that period. Adding to that, only few blood donation camps are happening in summer because of holidays in colleges. That time we are facing shortage of blood,” he added.According to the WHO, if one per cent of the total population donates blood, there will not be any shortage. At present, the blood banks in the state are getting more than six lakh units of blood on an average a year, which is better than the national average. At a national level, blood banks are getting 70 lakh units. “Our blood banks are almost meeting the requirement of the state. However, more number of units of blood are coming to the banks during months other than summer. We cannot store blood for more than 35 days. Hence the shortage,” he added.He admitted that youngsters were more willingly coming forward to donate blood these days. “It is my duty to inform them about the requirements and shortage. Those who are willing to donate blood can come to the Government General Hospital. We made an arrangement to collect blood within 30 minutes. No need to wait for a long time in the hospitals. We are calling people to come and donate blood on all days and particularly more during summer period,” he said.The camp, held at ICF Higher Secondary School on Sunday, was inaugurated by deputy chief personnel officer, ICF, G Marimuthu. The apprentices who had undergone training in ICF, along with the current year trainees, organised the camp.Dr Ramprakash, chief medical superintendent, ICF, said, “The apprentices of ICF organised this camp. Earlier they were conducting camps at a smaller level. But this year, they are conducting this mega camp to celebrate friendship day beneficially.”G Jagan, an apprentice and coordinator of the camp, said, “We plan to conduct camps every year. We are planning for an organ donation camp too. Our contact details were given to the hospital authorities. They can contact us anytime if they require blood.”
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