Re: I Love My Local Blood Bank

Rick Ward — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:48:49 -0000

Hey Andrew,
Cool Blog. Here's an article about the opposite problem up in the state of Haryana, India. Blood Bank without anyone to run it.

To more directly answer your question: Artificial blood for emergency use is under development that requires little or no refrigeration, but is still experimental, and probably expensive.

As your sister encountered, there are some real problems out there that hopefully we can help overcome through technology (in this case maybe solar electric or wind power generation would help), funding for rural development, and trained people willing to invest their time and abilities.

Thanks for your interest, and for taking the time and effort to run this blog. Hopefully you are having a great experience since graduation.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020505/harya...

2-yr-old blood bank awaits employees
Rahul Das
Tribune News Service

Ambala, May 4
A blood bank which was inaugurated with much fanfare two years back in Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantt is yet to become fully operational.

Although refrigeration of blood is being done at the new blood bank, testing of the blood has to be carried out at the blood bank located in Civil Hospital, Ambala City, from where it is transferred to the new blood bank.

Union Minister Sushma Swaraj had inaugurated the blood-bank building, constructed from the funds provided by Mr Swaraj Kaushal, the MP under the MP Local Area Development scheme on July 15,2000. Equipment for the blood bank was donated by Rotary Club, Ambala, Rotary Club, London and Rotary International, USA.

A recent direction from a senior district health officer for shifting some support equipment from the blood bank as it was not yet fully operational has stirred up a hornet’s nest. Rotary Club members are up in arms over the direction since they feel that the purpose of contributing for a much-needed blood bank would be defeated.

President of Rotary Club, Ambala, Dr Anil Jain, said that the support equipment in the blood bank was provided so that it became functional and there was medical intervention during times of need. “We have learnt that a direction was given by the Civil Surgeon for sending a refrigerator to Ambala City,” he said.

Dr Jain said that if the support equipment in the blood bank was transferred, it would be difficult to get it back. “The blood bank needs to be made fully operational since Ambala Cantt is sandwiched between the national highway and the state highway, where a number of accidents take place,” he said.

He said “We have been told that the blood bank, which was inaugurated two years back, is only, partially operational since trained manpower like lab technicians and blood transfusion officer were yet to be appointed”. “Once the blood bank becomes fully operational, absence of support equipment will be a handicap “he added.

Former president of Rotary Club of Ambala, Capt (Retd) Baldev Singh, said that it was sad that efforts made by us will come to a nought if support equipment was shifted. “We demand that the blood bank should be made fully operational at the earliest,” he said.

However, Civil Surgeon, Dr S.L. Kaushik, said only temporary shifting of the refrigerator of the blood bank at Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantt to Ambala City was required but it was eventually not carried out as the refrigerator in Ambala City was repaired.

The new blood bank is partially operational, since staff needed to man the blood bank for 24 hours is not yet available. Right now there is only one Laboratory technician while we require at least three Lab technicians, one reliever, one staff nurse and two Class IV employees, besides the Blood Transfusion Officer, he said.

Dr Kaushik said that he had taken up the matter with higher authorities. “About 25 units of blood are stored in the new blood bank and the tested blood is sent from Ambala City blood bank,” he said. “I must stress that no patient has been refused blood and we always make arrangements for blood,” he added.

Deputy Commissioner Ambala D.D. Gautam, said he would take up the issue of making the new blood bank fully operational with the authorities concerned. The question of allowing “shifting of support equipment, does not arise. The equipment meant for the blood bank will be utilised there itself and no transfer will be permitted,” he said.

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Re: I Love My Local Blood Bank