The Medinirai medical college hospital’s blood bank is going dry in the face of the Covid induced state-wide lockdown.

At present, the Daltonganj hospital, with a capacity to store 300 units a day, has 30 units. All blood donation camps across the district are suspended due to the pandemic.

Civil surgeon of Palamau, Anil Kumar Srivastav, said there is not a single day when he is not made to hear harsh and ugly things from people who say they need blood.

Dr Srivastav said that people exert all kinds of pressure for units of blood but when it comes to its replacement, everyone backs out.

Blood bank in-charge at Medinirai medical college hospital, Dr Jitendra Kumar said, “Our blood bank is drying up because of the coronavirus fear as no one is ready to donate blood.”

“Our regular blood donors were CRPF jawans, NGOs, college students and civil society activists etc but these days no one is coming forward for the blood donation camps for the fear of the pandemic,” he said.

Jitendra Kumar said anemia and thalassemia patients require around fifty to sixty units a month.

According to sources, road accidents have gone down considerably due to lockdown curbs on transportation. Accident cases would have added an extra burden to the already depleted resources.

Asked if a blood donor has to undergo tests for Covid, hepatitis, malaria and other communicable diseases, Jitendra Kumar said the state government has sent a new guideline which prohibits any test to be done on the donor.

“We are to collect blood without putting the donor through any burden of tests,” he said.