The long-fought battle of Blood shortage
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in 2016, India was short of 1.1 million from its required blood units of 12 million.
It is the World Blood Donors’ Day, and we in 2020 are still fighting the battle to reduce the blood supply shortage in the country. The statistic may sound like an achievement, but 1.1 million is not a lower number, not to mention the rise in population since then. Well, a person can still die with a unit short of his blood requirement, ergo making it, rather useless.
Some diseases are life long, like thalassemia. A genetic disorder where a person suffers a blood shortage throughout his/her life because the body makes an abnormal form or inadequate amount of hemoglobin, thus requiring blood transfusion on time to time basis. India is the thalassemia capital of the world, with more than 40 million patients out of which more than 1 lac patients being transfused blood every month.
The other dreadful disease is a blood cancer. People suffering from this can survive and get cured only if blood is transfused to them, if and when required. An article published by Medanta Hospital about blood cancer said that around 1.5 million cases of blood cancer are registered annually in India. It sounds saddening for anyone reading it, but still, people are not motivated to donate blood, unless they see the terrifying incident themselves.
In an article published by WHO a couple of days ago, it talked about some exciting facts on blood donations and supply shortage. Globally, 118.5 million blood donations are made, out of which 40% comes from high-income countries, which consists of a mere 16% of the world population. It is easy to translate and explain the importance of blood donation for the rest of the countries that house 84% population of the world and survives on 60% of this aggregate figure provided by WHO.
Why donate blood?
I think the above statistics about a couple of chronic diseases, amongst many, can become a good reason for you to motivate to donate blood. But in India, people mostly like to donate blood only when some close relative or friend is in dire need of it. When asked about not donating blood at usual, a standard reply is that they are saving it for bad times. I find it too blatant even to consider it as a reply. I ask them back, “What about the fact if everyone donates blood regularly, would anyone will even worry for a rough patch?” Mostly I am responded with silence or with some vague arguments.
However, this article is not about me or my thoughts. We are here to build a sense of responsibility amongst people who don’t find it necessary enough to encourage society to make timely blood donations.
Blood is not something that is being created by scientists in a lab or is imported by the government to treat people. It is a living compound that can only be found in other living beings.
I am currently working with an NGO in India that works to reduce the gap in blood demand and supply by conducting a plethora of blood donation and awareness camps. While working with them, I learned the seriousness of the issue, though I was aware of it but not to the extent that I learned while volunteering. As a member of this society and as a human being, it becomes imperative for us to understand the importance of the issue and make regular blood donations.
Therefore, if anyone wants to make an impact on someone’s life and make this country blood sufficient, a regulated donation is enough to do so. I would reiterate that the purpose of this article is not to discuss a topic of social concern like usual but to bring up the importance of blood donation so that you open up your inhibitions and do this heroic act with love and devotion. On the occasion of this World Blood Donors’ Day 🩸, I would like to put up an anonymous quote —
“Bring someone’s life back to power. Make blood donation your responsibility.”
The views in the article are personal.
