Severe Blood Shortage Hits Chitwan, Red Cross Appeals for Donations

Chitwan. There is an extreme shortage of blood in the district. In connection with this, the Nepal Red Cross Society, Chitwan Chapter, has issued an appeal to organize blood donation programs.

In the appeal issued by the chapter's chairman, Hari Prasad Poudel, an appeal has been made to donate blood because there is a shortage of blood even for the treatment of patients coming for treatment in the district's hospitals. The appeal mentions that the district is facing a blood shortage because blood donation programs have not been held after the elections. Currently, the district has a daily demand of around 150 units of blood.

The shortage occurred because the demand for blood could not be met due to very few blood donation programs being organized. Relatives of patients donate blood at the Provincial Blood Transfusion Center operated by the chapter in Bharatpur and at the units located in large hospitals. The treatment of patients coming from outside has started to halt due to the lack of blood.

According to Ramesh Kanta Poudel, the head of the center, efforts are being made to meet the demand for blood with the help of relatives of patients and volunteer donors because the center currently has no blood.

He stated that it has become difficult to supply blood even in emergencies at major hospitals here, including the two large medical colleges, Bharatpur Hospital, and the Cancer Hospital, due to the shortage. Cancer patients require a large amount of blood.

Similarly, blood is needed during surgeries performed on new mothers and accident victims. The center's head, Poudel, stated that the blood shortage is also due to the lack of blood donation programs.