In order to fulfil the shortage of blood during summer months, the State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) has informed blood banks across the state to plan and organise blood donation camps during the summer season.
As per the SBTC authorities, every year, blood banks suffer from a stark shortage during the months of April, May, and June.
While, on an average, around 16 lakh units of blood is collected in the state every year, the minimum average requirement is 11.23 lakh units.
Arun Thorat, SBTC Assistant Director, said, "We have a good amount of blood collection throughout the year. It is more than the average requirement but the graph of blood collection decreases during summer months and during Diwali. Most of the citizens go out of town during these months. The education institutions are shut due to which a major target group of donors is not available."
According to the authority, forward planning must be done by the blood banks across the state, in order to not have any shortage in the summer months. Every blood bank must have an estimate of blood needed and utilised from the blood bank.
"Various organisations like religious groups, temple trusts, non-profit institutes can help to set up blood donation camps. Public places and educational institutes can help to get youngsters to donate blood," Thorat said.
The authority further stated that less number of blood gets discarded or wasted as most of the blood banks connect with each other to avail of blood.