Kathmandu, April 17:

Even though the Valley is facing shortage of everything from essential commodities to vegetables, the swarm of blood donors here in the last 12 days of the general strike has ensured that there is no shortage of blood for those in need.

The Central Blood Transfusion Services (CBTS) at the Nepal Red Cross Society is even planning to control the collection of O-positive and A-positive blood.

Dr Manita Rajkarnikar, director at the CBTS, said the collection of blood was very good. “We are in pretty good shape regarding the blood stock,” said Rajkarnikar: “Most of the hospitals and private nursing homes have their own blood banks. Hence there is enough stock of blood at the CBTS.”

A total of 240 units of blood were collected on April 16 and 180 units were supplied to hospitals and private nursing homes. The CBTS now has blood of O positive and A positive groups in excess. “As the blood has to be used within 35 days of collection, we are planning to control the collection of O-positive and A-positive groups,” said Dr Rajkarnikar.

During normal working days, 120- 200 units of blood are collected daily from at least 3-4 places in the Valley with the help of various local organisations and clubs. Andaman Tuvalu, joint coordinator of Nepal Voluntary Blood Donors’ Society, said that compared to previous strikes and bandhs, the collection of blood was up but it was still short of the amount collected during normal working days.

“We are in a situation to provide blood anytime,” said Tuvalu: “For the same purpose, we have set up mobile camps in various places.” There are a total of 56 blood collection centres in the country: one at the central level, three at the regional level, 21 at the district level, 15 at various hospitals in addition to the 16 emergency units at other places.

But as the CTBS only has a single defreezer, there have been problems in storage of various blood components. Plasma can be stored for upto six months and only 200 units can be preserved in a defreezer. The daily demand for various components is around 60 units.

There are 50,000 blood donors across the country; 30,000 in Kathmandu Valley alone.