UT tops in Blood Transfusion Services

INVC,,

may have spelled global economic bust but for Chandigarh it did result in an unconventional boom of sorts in voluntary blood donation. Looking in the rear-view mirror, the year looks pretty good for the blood transfusion services in the Union Territory which has topped the states/ UTs in blood collection with a rating of 82 per cent. What’s more but rare and does Chandigarh proud is that blood collection here has been more than the consumption.  

Disclosing this here today, Dr M. S. Bains, Director, Health Services and Family Welfare, UT Administration, said that up to November 30, 2009, 67,905 units of blood had been collected in Chandigarh, including 56,073 units from voluntary donors. “City Beautiful has not only scored 92 per cent in the compliance of nine key indicators but has also been declared the best among all the States/UTs by the National AIDS Control Organization, New Delhi, in Blood Transfusion Services”, Dr Bains said.

Unfolding the UT Administration plans to do more and better in the New Year, Dr Vanita Gupta, Project Director, State Aids Control Society, Chandigarh, said that two blood storage centres would be set up at the Civil Hospitals in Sector 22 and Manimajra. The microscopes, refrigerators and bench-top centrifuge have been procured for the purpose. Procurement of two inventers in place of generators for uninterrupted functioning of refrigerators is in progress.

Besides, the Rotary Blood Bank and the GMCH-32 have been upgraded to the level of Blood Component Separation Units. The upgradation of GMSH-16 from a Major Blood Bank to a Blood Component Separation Unit is in progress. The PGI Blood Donation Bank is being upgraded to the Model Blood Bank. Twenty-two such blood banks will be opened all over the country.  

The allocation for 2009-10 under the blood safety head has been approved. The Health Department has spent Rs 36.04 lakh (32 per cent) up to December 8, 2009, on blood safety activities. The grants for external quality assurance scheme; blood safety training, blood storage centre training, and AMC/CAMC grants (two blood banks) had already been released, Dr Vanita Gupta added.