NE HEALTH BUREAU
CHENNAI, JUNE 17
Stating that the blood donation drive has plunged by 20 percent in Tamil Nadu during the pandemic, Fortis Hospital has roped in cine stars to dispel myths and beliefs on the safety of blood donation on the eve of World Blood Donors Day.
While the process of drawing blood takes only 10 minutes, the entire process may take 1 hour. Since blood donation is restricted for about 3 months post-vaccination, it is essential that you share the gift of life before getting the jab.
#WorldBloodDonorDay #COVIDVaccination pic.twitter.com/PpcLHeQUYQ— Fortis Healthcare (@fortis_hospital) June 14, 2021
COVID-19 has disrupted the day-to-day life of tens of thousands of people around the globe. The series of waves and the quick spread of this disease created panic not just with the layman but also among the real and reel heroes, the life-savers through donating blood for plasma.
There is no substitute for human blood. A healthy adult who donates blood every 3 months can save 12 lives in a year. This #WorldBloodDonorDay, become a proud volunteer and donate blood before getting vaccinated to help overcome blood shortages or emergencies. #Vaccination pic.twitter.com/xkdl0vzQd7
— Fortis Healthcare (@fortis_hospital) June 14, 2021
With a view to keep the volunteering tradition alive, to encourage the donors and dispel the myths and beliefs of blood donation during COVID Fortis Hospital has recently organized a blood donation drive in association with the film personalities – Anjali Rao (Actress), Praveen Saravanan (Film Makers), Suresh Ravi (Actor, Producer), Ranjith Manikandan (Director) and Sanjay Pandey (Zonal Director, Fortis).
Speaking on this occasion Dr. Sanjay Pandey, Zonal Director, Fortis Hospital, here said, “COVID has impacted the blood banks’ reserve across regions. The voluntary blood donation has affected the national blood supply due to COVID-19; also, the blood donation drive has plunged by 20 percent in the state during pandemic. As per WHO any country needs 1 percent of its population to donate blood to meet the country’s transfusion need. In India, there is always a shortage of 1m units. To eliminate this shortage, we need to encourage India’s youth population to donate blood.”
“A person recovered from COVID can donate blood after 28 days of his/her isolation or testing negative after treatment and a vaccinated person can donate 14 days after vaccination,” he added.
Commenting on the initiative Dr. Shanmuga Priya, Consultant, Transfusion Medicine, Fortis Hospital said, “When the number of people affected by COVID infection during the second wave are high the demand for blood for surgeries also not reduced. Though road accidents drastically declined during the lockdown, pregnant women, Thalassemia, and cancer patients were badly in need of blood transfusion. When the first and second waves impacted the blood reserve and donation the third wave is in the pipeline.
“Students, youth, NGOs who are the main donors of blood are also locked within their locality. The initiative of this kind by Fortis Hospital will encourage the donors to come forward to donate blood,’’ she added.