Post News Network
Rayagada, March 26: The district blood bank in Rayagada has failed to live up to people’s expectations. A plethora of problems like shortage of staff, lack of efforts to encourage people to donate blood has plagued the facility.
While there is a need for 300 units of blood in the district every month, the blood bank is being able to collect only 100 to 150 units of blood.
In the last three years, the bank has never been able to meet the demand. While there is a requirement of 3,600 units of blood in the district every year, only 2,788 units were collected in 2012. Out of 2,788 units, 1166 were collected through blood donation camps.
In 2013, 2,815 units of blood were collected and out of this, 1,563 were collected through blood donation camps. In 2014, 2,978 units were collected by the bank and out of this, 1,193 were collected through camps.
This year, the blood bank has so far collected 719 units out of which, 300 were collected by organizing blood donation camps.
Besides failing to meet the demand, the bank is also facing other problems like staff shortage.
While the government has sanctioned four lab technicians for the district blood bank, two posts are lying vacant. Similarly, no regular staff has been appointed here for last 10 years.
Moreover, though four doctors have been given special training to work in the blood bank, none of them shows interest to take complete charge of it.
Due to shortage of staff, two technicians have to work overtime.
In addition to this, the bank also lacks in facilities like toilets, rest room for donors and air conditioning system.
When queried, Dr V L N Raju who is presently in charge of the blood bank said there is a need of more staff and he has apprised the authorities about this.
Chief district medical officer Dr Ananda Padhi said there is no need of more staff for the blood bank.
He, however, stated that the bank would be air-conditioned after the completion of repair work.