MARTADI: Bajura District Hospital is facing acute shortage of blood with inexplicable reluctance on part of the local residents to donate blood. Expecting and new mothers in Bajura have been suffering due to blood church in the district of late. Dr. Tika Ram Rai had to donate one pint of A+ blood to save Geeta Rokaya (20) of Gaumul Rural Municipality-2 in the district, who was suffering from anemia after her relatives failed to collect blood. Dr. Rai who not only treated the patient but also saved her life by donating his blood to her. Similarly, Sharda Kadara 929) of Buddinanda Municipality-7 in the district was admitted to the hospital with severe labor pain. Doctors at the hospital conducted cesarean to extract the dead baby and saved Kadara's life. However, a health professional at the hospital had to donate blood to save her life. Due to lack of awareness and persistence reluctance by the locals to donate blood,  hospital has been relying on the health professionals and other staffs at the hospital, police and army personnel deployed in the area. Although there are no blood banks in Bajura, blood transmission centres were established at the District Health Office and Tate Health Post. However, locals are still reluctant to donate blood in the centre.