Blood donation in India
Blood donations in India are conducted by several organizations and hospitals by organizing blood donation camps. Donors can also visit blood banks in hospitals to donate blood or directly to a receiver. The number of voluntary blood donors increased from 54.4% in 2006-2007 to 83.1% in 2011-2012, with the number of blood units increasing from 4.4 million units in 2006-2007 to 9.3 million units in 2012-2013.[1]
Blood donors in India donate around 350 millilitres of blood.[2] After a donation, the donors are provided with refreshments, which usually include a glucose drink, biscuits and fruits. Some organizations offer transportation facilities, apart from providing certificates or badges as a gratitude.[3]
History of blood donation in India
The history of voluntary blood donation in India dates back to 1942 during the second world war, when blood donors were required to help the wounded soldiers. The first blood bank was established in Kolkata, West Bengal in March 1942 at the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health and was managed by the Red Cross. The donors were mostly government employees and people from the Anglo-Indian community who donated blood for a humanitarian cause. The number of voluntary donors declined after the war and donors had to be paid for the blood.[1][4] Leela Moolgaonkar, a social reformer, initiated voluntary blood donation camps in Mumbai from 1954. The 1960s saw many blood banks open in different cities. Under his stewardship in 1975, J. G. Jolly, the president of the Indian Society of Blood Transfusion and Immunohaematology declared October 1 as the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day, which has been observed throughout the country ever since.
The HIV pandemic in the 1980s led to the government setting up the National AIDS Control Organization in 1992 to oversee the policies in preventing the spread of AIDS. Subsequently, the National AIDS Control Programme was launched which led to drastic improvements in patient screening and hygienic transfusion procedures. A public interest litigation was filed in the Supreme court in 1996 to abolish the practice of selling blood which became effective on 1 January 1998.[4] Selling or donating blood in exchange of money is illegal under the National Blood Transfusion Services Act 2007 and those found convicted may face a prison sentence of up to three months with fine.[5]
Criteria to donate blood
There are several parameters that determine the eligibility of an individual to donate blood. Guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Health, Government of India have to be followed by blood banks and organizations conducting blood donation camps.[3][6]
- Overall health- The donor must be fit and healthy, and should not be suffering from transmittable diseases.
- Age and weight- The donor must be 18–60 years old and should weigh a minimum of 50 kg.
- Pulse rate- Between 50 and 100 without irregularities.
- Hemoglobin level- A minimum of 12.5 g/dL.
- Blood pressure- Diastolic: 50–100 mm Hg, Systolic: 100–180 mm Hg.
- Body temperature- Should be normal, with an oral temperature not exceeding 37.5 °C.
- The time period between successive blood donations should be more than 3 months.
Individuals under certain conditions are deemed ineligible to donate blood:[6]
- A person who has been tested HIV positive.
- Individuals suffering from ailments like cardiac arrest, hypertension, blood pressure, cancer, epilepsy, kidney ailments and diabetes.
- A person who has undergone ear/body piercing or tattoo in the past 6 months.
- Individuals who have undergone immunization in the past 1 month.
- Individuals treated for rabies or received Hepatitis B vaccine in the past 6 months.
- A person who has consumed alcohol in the past 24 hours.
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Individuals who have undergone major dental procedures or general surgeries in the past 1 month.
- Women who have had miscarriage in the past 6 months.
- Individuals who have had fits, tuberculosis, asthma and allergic disorders in the past.
Organizations
India has several different blood donation organizations, both governmental and non-governmental. Some major organizations operate in many regions throughout the country while other are regional and operate with local support. Along with conducting blood donation camps, these organizations also raise awareness on voluntary blood donation and public health. Most of the organizations have an online portal where donors can register their details and get updates when camps are organized. Some of the major organizations that conduct blood donation camps are enlisted below.
friends2support organisaton
The friends2support.org was founded in 2005 and is based from Andhra Pradesh. It is the largest blood donation organization in India with operations in all parts of the country. It has 2,00,000 voluntary blood donors and listed with Limca Book of Records as India's largest voluntary blood donors network.
Rotary Blood Bank
The Rotary Blood Bank was founded in 2002 and is based in New Delhi. It is one of the largest blood donation organizations and operate camps throughout the country through their regional branches.
Indian Red Cross Society
The Indian Red Cross Society was established in 1920 and has 166 blood banks across the country.[7] It is based in New Delhi and actively conducts blood donation camps in many cities through the Indian Red Cross Blood Bank.
Sankalp India Foundation
Sankalp India Foundation was established in 2003. It is based in Bengaluru and operates blood donation camps in the state of Karnataka.
Save Life India
A project under 'Volunteer for a Better India', Save Life India is an initiative of the Art Of Living foundation and is based in Margao, Goa. Initially started in Goa in 2014, the organization conducts blood donation camps in many states.[8]
Lions Blood Bank
A project by Lions Club, the Lions Blood Bank is based in Chennai and operates blood bank and camps in many cities.
Think Foundation
The Think Foundation is based in Mumbai. It conducts blood donation camps and works for thalessemia patients & preventing thalessemia by conducting check-ups.
Athar Blood Bank
Athar Blood Bank is an initiative by Athar Minorities Social and Welfare Association and is based in Solapur, Maharashtra. it was established in 2012 and conducts blood donation camps across state.
Apart from governmental and non-governmental organizations, major hospitals in the country have their own blood banks where blood donation is conducted within the facility. Organizations such as BloodConnect, Indian Blood Donors and Friends2Support maintain a database of blood donors which facilitates a network between blood donors and organizations/hospitals.
Issues in blood donation
Despite a huge population, the demand-supply gap for blood units persists in many healthcare facilities in the country. According to a 2012 report by the World Health Organization, only 9 million blood units are available annually, whereas the demand is 12 million units.[9] Due to substandard medical facilities and practices in many parts of the country, there have been cases of transmission of infective diseases like AIDS.[10] Voluntary blood donation comprises about 70% of the blood demand, with the rest coming from replacement donors, whereas 62 nations in the world fulfill their blood demands through voluntary donations.[11][12] A study conducted in 2011 reports that a mere 6% of women donate blood, mostly due to physiological problems and low hemoglobin count.[13] Other hurdles in increasing voluntary blood donation include the fear of pain and weakness after the procedure, and illiteracy.[14]
Forced donation
Documented instances of forced blood extraction have occurred in India, among other countries, owing to its disproportionate ratio of available supply of blood and high poverty rate. One such ring gained national attention in 2008 when an emaciated man escaped from his captors near the city of Gorakhpur, in Uttar Pradesh.[15][16]
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Initiatives to encourage blood donation
October 1 is celebrated as the national voluntary blood donation day.[7] Blood donation agencies often organize workshops to educate people about the benefits of donating blood.[17] With a huge population of youth, blood donation camps are often organized by hospitals and organizations at college campuses.[18][19] Blood donors and their family members are often given priority in case of emergency or accidents. In 2016, the government launched an initiative called 'E-RaktKosh', a web-based mechanism that integrates all blood banks in the state into a single network, providing information about the closest blood bank to the user.
See also
References
- ^ a b "Voluntary blood donation in India: Achievements, expectations and challenges". NCBI. PMC 4455102.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "How many units of blood can a healthy person donate at a time?". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 March 2004.
- ^ a b "Voluntary blood donation program: an operational guideline" (PDF). NACO. Ministry of Health, Government of India.
- ^ a b "National Guidebook on Blood Donor Motivation" (PDF). Government of India.
- ^ "Professional blood donors may soon be jailed". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 November 2007.
- ^ a b "Donor Guidelines". Indian Blood Bank.
- ^ a b "National Voluntary Blood Donation Day". Indian Red Cross Society.
- ^ "Save Life India got featured in Seva Times August". Save Life India.
- ^ "India facing a blood shortage of 3 million units". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ "Bad blood: 2,234 get HIV after transfusion". The Hindu. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ^ "Voluntary donation, safe blood". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
- ^ "World Blood Donor Day 2016: Blood connects us all". World Health Organization.
- ^ "India faces huge blood donation deficit". Zee News. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- ^ "Attitudes and problems related to voluntary blood donation in India". Annals of tropical medicine and public health.
- ^ "Gang of blood suppliers unearthed in Gorakhpur - Times of India". The Times of India. March 16, 2008. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Carney, Scott (June 6, 2011). "Book Excerpt: Exposing India's Blood Farmers". WIRED. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Over 300 join in blood donation awareness programme in Delhi". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
- ^ "Maharaja's College students hold blood donation camp". The Hindu. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ "HDFC Bank's 'Blood Donation Drive' on December 5". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
