According to the Sunsari district chapter of Nepal Red Cross Society, the blood bank at the BPKIHS has already run out of AB positive and B positive blood and their stock of A positive and O positive blood is also dwindling. [break]
“Around 15 pints of A positive and O positive blood are available at the blood bank. This stock will last for a day,” said Som Nath Bhandari, Technician at the blood bank. “There has not been any collection of blood since the beginning of Dashain,” he added.
With such shortage of blood, locals have been compelled to depend their friends and families for required blood. Bhima Rai, 23, of Tadi VDC-4, who had admitted his pregnant wife at the BPKIHS, had to run pillar to post in search of AB positive blood. Only after making several telephone calls, a local with the matching blood group was found at his village. He was immediately summoned to the hospital.
“We searched for the blood in Biratnagar, Dharan and called all our relatives but no to avail. Luckily, a neighbor in our village was of the same blood group. Thanks to him for saving my wife,” said Rai.
According to the blood bank, the BPKIH requires 70 to 80 pints of blood every day as the demand of O positive and A positive blood is high compared to other blood groups.
“This problem will sort out immediately after blood donation programs are conducted,” said In-charge of the blood bank, Jitendra Sharma.
Meanwhile, Regional Blood Bank Center in Biratnagar is also running out of blood. According to a technician of the center, Jitendra Dev, they are left with only 50 pints of O positive, and 5 or 6 pints of B positive and A positive blood each.
“Had the patients not managed blood through friends and relatives, this last stock would also have already finished,” said Dev.
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