IAS officer, doctor wife donate blood as Palamu launches campaign
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Daltonganj, September 12: A blood donation camp was organised in the lobby of the Palamu Collectorate on Saturday…
IAS officer on probation Ritwik Mehta and his doctor wife Vedica Gupta donate blood during the camp held at the Palamu Collectorate in Daltonganj.
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, September 12: A blood donation camp was organised in the lobby of the Palamu Collectorate on Saturday following a call by Palamu Deputy Commissioner Dilip Pratap Singh Shekhawat, in view of the shortage of blood at the blood centre of MMCH, Daltonganj.
The camp was jointly inaugurated by Shekhawat and Palamu Superintendent of Police Kapil Chaudhary.
First such camp at administrative block
Administrative sources said this was the first time that a blood donation camp had been organised in Administrative Block A of the Collectorate, which houses the office of the Deputy Commissioner.
The initiative was prompted by the pressing need to replenish blood stocks at the MMCH blood centre and encourage greater public participation in voluntary blood donation.
Among the early donors were young IAS officer on probation Ritwik Mehta and his doctor wife, Vedica Gupta, who donated one unit of blood each.
As many as 21 units of blood had been collected by the time of filing this report.
One-year blood donation campaign announced
Shekhawat announced a year-long campaign to promote blood donation across rural, rurban and urban areas throughout Palamu district.
Palamu has more than 125 patients suffering from blood cancer, thalassemia, sickle cell disorders and other conditions that require regular access to blood.
The district is also highly prone to road accidents. Sources said that during peak summer, Palamu records an average of one road accident-related death every two days.
Blood centres face challenges over replacement donations
A blood centre official said people often approach the facility in emergencies to obtain blood but become reluctant when asked to arrange replacement donations.
The official claimed that blood centre personnel sometimes face pressure through telephone calls from influential people to waive the replacement requirement.
In one such instance, a son allegedly left the centre after being asked to arrange replacement blood for his father.
The blood centre, however, provided one unit of blood to the patient’s father without delay, the official said.
The official also highlighted the contribution of police personnel in Palamu, saying several members of the constabulary have donated blood in emergencies and helped save lives.
Two blood centres in Daltonganj
There are two blood centres in Daltonganj, including a privately run, licensed centre attached to a multi-speciality hospital.
Officials said sustained voluntary blood donation is essential to ensure that adequate stocks are available for patients requiring emergency transfusions and regular treatment.
