Even after a decade since they became districts in 1998, Koppal, Bangalore Rural and Chamarajnagar do not have a single blood bank. Ramanagar and Chikkaballapur, which became districts in 2007, also lack blood banks.
Nearly 100 Blood Banks (BB) are situated in Southern Karnataka, while the number of BBs in 11 districts of North Karnataka is just 43! Bangalore City and Mysore district alone have 75 blood banks !
As per Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS) statistics, the State currently has 170 blood bank. Of them, Bangalore City has 64 blood banks, Mysore 11, Mangalore 11, Hubli-Dharwad 8, Belgaum 6, Gulbarga 4, Bellary 5, Bidar 2, Bijapur 6, Karwar 4, Haveri 1,Gadag 2 and Bagalkot 4.
“This disparity is affecting several thousand patients. The government needs to set up at least one blood bank in every district and ensured equal distribution,” says Dr Suresh Hanagwadi, Professor of Pathology, JJM Medical College Davangere.
Says Dr Hanagawadi: “BBs with component facilities are located only in Bangalore, Mysore, Hubli, Belgaum, Davangere, Bellary and Mangalore.
Component facilities can give new lease of life to more patients as particular components can be given to different patients in need. This stresses conversion of BBs with whole blood facilities into BBs with component facilities.”
However, Joint Director Blood Safety-Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society Dr K M Prema says, “Karnataka has enough blood banks. There is no need to increase the number at present. As regards the five districts which lack BBs, it is upto Joint Director-Medical to take a decision in this regard.
On the occasion of National Voluntary Blood Donation Day on Oct 1, KSAPS has organised a month-long programme to create awareness about blood donation in every district.
The events like jathas, processions and camps will be monitored by District AIDS Prevention Control Officers.
