Mysore/Mysuru: As the Coronavirus pandemic is surging ahead, Blood Banks in Mysuru are facing severe shortage of supply with dwindling reserves. Most of the Blood Banks in the city including Jeevadhara and the one in K.R. Hospital are facing similar crisis. 

People are locked down in their homes and as such, donors are not coming forward to donate blood which is giving tough time to these Blood Banks and the existing stocks might last only for a few more days.

Blood units can be used for up to 41 days and they cannot be used after this expiry date. Speaking to Star of Mysore, K.R. Hospital Blood Bank Unit Head Dr. B.S. Manjunath said, “We have only 1,000 units now and we need to utilise them within the month of April. Earlier, we used to collect 40 to 50 units of blood per day, but now, at most 10 to 12 persons are donating their blood. Last Sunday, only 4 persons came forward to donate blood. I would request people to come forward and donate blood.”

Till Mar. 10, blood donation camps held in the city used to supply enough volume of blood units to these Blood Banks. Following Coronavirus scare, there are no camps and donors are in no mood of donating blood.

The situation in one of the main Blood Banks in the city, Jeevadhara Blood Bank is no different. Girish, who heads Jeevadhara, said, “Now, we have only 22 blood units. We collect all blood groups. If anyone is willing to donate blood, we can provide transportation, bring them here in an ambulance, replenish them with fruit juices after donation and also give certificate for donors,” he said. 

“We have a list of donors to which the donor’s name and phone number will be added and will be called later in case of emergency requirements. Persons up to 65 years of age can donate blood. We collect only 350 ml of blood which is called one unit,” Girish added. 

In-charge of St. Joseph’s Hospital Blood Bank Unit Ibrahim said, “We are also facing shortage of blood units. We need donors as we have only seven units of blood here in our Blood Bank.”