Key Takeaways:
- Two police officers donated blood to save a mother after childbirth
- Woman suffered life-threatening bleeding following a caesarean delivery
- More than 90 percent of blood needs are met through emergency donors
- Bajura still lacks a functioning blood bank despite years of demand
A new mother survived life-threatening bleeding following a caesarean delivery at Bajura District Hospital after two police officers rushed to donate blood, highlighting the district's continuing dependence on emergency donors due to the absence of a functioning blood bank.
Ganga Damai of Badimalika Municipality-7 underwent a caesarean section on Monday night and suffered severe bleeding afterward, according to hospital officials.
As her condition became critical and blood was urgently required, the hospital contacted the District Police Office for assistance.
District Police Office Chief DSP Shaileshwori Bohara and Police Inspector Gagansingh Bhat, whose blood groups matched the patient's, reached the hospital and donated blood.
District Hospital Bajura Chief Dr Harish Malla said the hospital sought help from police after the mother's life was put at risk by heavy bleeding following surgery.
Health workers said Damai had already been suffering from anaemia, increasing the urgency of obtaining blood after the operation.
Bohara said she immediately responded after learning that a mother's life was in danger because of a shortage of blood.
"I am also a mother, and I was very happy to be able to help a mother in pain," she said.
Hospital officials say such incidents are common in Bajura, where emergency patients often depend on blood donations from security personnel and healthcare workers.
According to hospital information officer Nipraj Giri, pregnant women, new mothers and other patients requiring blood transfusions continue to rely heavily on the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and health workers because the district does not have a blood transfusion centre.
"There is a lack of awareness about the need to donate blood. The absence of a blood transfusion centre is also a problem. Whenever blood is needed, we have to find people and bring them in," Giri said.
The shortage has persisted for years. Relatives of patients are often forced to search for donors themselves, while blood shortages can complicate emergency maternity and surgical procedures.
Health workers said patients scheduled for caesarean deliveries are frequently required to identify potential blood donors before surgery because blood may not be available when needed.
Bajura District Hospital provides emergency obstetric services and a range of surgical procedures, making access to a reliable blood supply critical.
According to the hospital, more than 90 percent of blood used at the facility is currently managed through donations from security personnel and healthcare workers. More than 10 patients typically require blood transfusions each week.
Neither Bajura District Hospital nor the Nepal Red Cross Society currently operates a functional blood bank in the district.
Although the Nepal Red Cross Society has supplied two D-freezers intended for a future blood bank, the facility has not yet been brought into operation.
Dr Malla said the absence of a blood bank continues to put patients, particularly women after childbirth, at risk during emergencies.
"Bajura urgently needs a blood bank. There have also been no effective efforts for its establishment," he said.
Hospital officials said funding constraints have delayed the establishment of a blood bank despite periodic budget allocations from the Sudurpashchim provincial government.
Local residents have also called for the immediate establishment of a blood bank, arguing that patients sometimes face treatment delays or must be referred elsewhere because blood is unavailable.
At present, emergency blood transfusion services are available only at Bajura District Hospital, Kolti Hospital and Tante Health Post.
The incident has renewed calls for the establishment of a blood bank in Bajura, with health workers warning that timely access to blood remains a critical challenge for emergency and maternity care in the district.