Rural polls & heat waves take toll on blood donation camps

MALDA, April 30: The Malda blood bank is facing an acute crisis of blood as the supply through regular blood donation camps organised by voluntary organisations has been stalled due to the forthcoming panchayat polls.With the rural polls round the corner and the rising mercury, the Voluntary Blood Donors’ Association including the CPI-M backed youth wing DYFI is not in a position to organise blood donation camps in the district.Under the prevailing circumstances, the voluntary organisations are planning to organise camps in the urban areas to tide over the present crisis. Though the DYFI had planned to organise 11 blood donation camps in the district, it has been able to organise only one so far. Similarly, another voluntary organisation has been able to organise only three out of the planned eight. In April, the Malda blood bank has received 150 units of blood only. As a result, the Malda blood bank is running short of AB+ blood group. The secretary of the Malda district Blood Donors’ Forum, Mr Soumitra Datta said: “We have been able to collect 151 units of blood from eight camps so far. Low turn out at blood donation camps has created the problem.” n SNS