Youngsters encouraged to donate more blood

Hyderabad: Those donating blood for remuneration have become a major cause for concern in the last five years. Dr C. Ramesh, of transfusion medicine, said, “All blood banks have a list of donors who are ready to donate blood. But there is stress laid on non-remunerated voluntary donors as their blood will be safe. For this reason, youngsters from colleges, young office goers are encouraged to donate blood. The catch line is: ‘If you have never donated donate once’.”

While anaemia and thalassemia patients require blood transfusion regularly, there are other categories of major surgeries in orthopaedics, gynaecology and those undergoing operations in advanced ages requiring blood transfusion. This has increased the number of patients requiring blood.

METHOD TO CONTACT BLOOD DONORS

• Apart from listed donors being called telephonically or via SMSes, messages on Facebook and Whatsapp are also put to use to circulate the message of urgent blood requirement.
• An app is also being launched where blood type can be uploaded and people within 10 kms radius can opt for blood donation.