On the occasion of World Blood Donors' Day on Monday, chief minister Hemant Soren announced the setting up of blood component separation units in six districts and launched an online system of issuing digital blood donation certificates.
Promising similar facilities in all other districts in future, the chief minister also unveiled an annual donation calendar prepared by Jharkhand State Aids Control Society (JSACS) which also started a YouTube channel.
Hemant appealed to all, especially the youth, to take up blood donation on mission mode to serve humanity. “Blood donation is considered to be a noble gesture as it can save lives. However, there are instances when the needy find it difficult to get the right amount of blood or its allied products on time due to lack of stock. We have, therefore, decided to strengthen blood related facilities in all districts but will also push donations,” he said.
Officials of JSACS, who were also part of the online function along with the chief minister and state health minister Banna Gupta, said that in the first phase, blood component separation units were being set up at sadar hospitals of Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Giridih, Gumla, Palamau and East Singbhum (Jamshedpur).
Gupta said the new facilities would boost blood related services acorss the state. “Blood component separation units will play a crucial role in treating patients of dengue or those struggling with blood related ailments. These units can easily churn out platelets, white blood cells, plasma among others as per patients' requirements. This will help prevent wastage too," he explained.
Currently, only Rajendra Institute of Medica Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi and Jamshedpur blood bank have blood separator units. Critical patients frpm across the state have to come to either Ranchi or Jamshedpur to avail blood components like platelets, WBC etc.
Jharkhand has 59 blood banks out of which 39 are supported by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO). The rest are privately owned. As per figures available with JSACS, Jharkhand requires around 3.5 lakh units of blood per year but it often falls short by about a lakh units.
To tackle the shortage, JSACS has now worked out an annual donation calendar to be followed round the year in all 24 districts. “We have decided to run mega donation camps on Shaheed Divas in memory of martyrs of the state,” said an official, adding that their new YouTube channel would upload programmes and related content to encourage voluntary blood donation.
The state government will also issue digital blood donation certificates from now onwards. “Earlier, donation certificates weren’t given but from now onwards, the moment anyone donates blood, a digital certificate will be sent on their registered mobile number and email id,” said the JSAC official.
