District hospital dependent on army, police and health workers for blood donations
KATHMANDU, MAY 11
A severe shortage of blood donors has left Bajura district struggling to provide timely medical services, with the absence of a functional blood bank forcing patients' families to search for blood in emergencies.
The lack of blood supply has particularly affected emergency maternity and surgical services at the District Hospital Bajura. Patients' relatives are often seen scrambling to arrange blood during critical situations.
Information Officer at the hospital, Nrip Raj Giri, said that in cases requiring blood, especially for pregnant women, new mothers and other patients, the hospital has to rely on personnel from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and health workers.
"There is a lack of awareness about blood donation. The absence of a blood transfusion centre has further complicated the situation. Whenever blood is needed, donors have to be called on an emergency basis, which disrupts service delivery," Giri said.
The hospital currently provides complicated delivery and surgical services, but operations are often delayed unless blood donors are arranged in advance. Health workers said that surgeries, including caesarean sections, cannot proceed without securing blood beforehand.
Despite having three specialist doctors and running multiple surgical services, the hospital faces repeated disruptions due to the unavailability of blood.
Hospital sources said more than 90 percent of blood used at the facility is donated by security personnel and health workers. On average, over 10 units of blood are required each week. However, in the absence of a blood bank, the hospital has not been able to organise regular blood donation drives and depends on ad hoc arrangements.
The problem persists as neither the District Hospital Bajura nor the Nepal Red Cross Society has been able to establish a functional blood bank. Although the Red Cross had procured deep freezers twice for the purpose, the facility has yet to come into operation.
Local residents say the lack of a blood bank has forced patients to suffer delays in treatment or seek services elsewhere. They have stressed the urgent need to establish a blood bank in the district.
Although the Sudurpashchim Provincial Government has repeatedly allocated budget for setting up a blood bank, it has yet to materialise due to insufficient resources, according to Giri.
Emergency blood transfusion services are currently available at the District Health Office, Kolti Hospital and Tate Health Post.