By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 6: A door-to-door campaign “One House One Donor” has begun to collect blood to fulfill the demand for blood during the lockdown.
Nepal Red Cross Society Mahabauddha branch and Kathmandu District branch have begun the campaign jointly with an objective to fulfill the blood demand in the lockdown period in the capital-based hospitals.
The campaign has begun from Ward No 15 of Kathmandu Metropolitan City under the coordination of Nepal Red Cross Society Mahabauddha branch office since Friday.
Thirteen people from Chagal, Lakhatirtha and Dhubahhel donated their blood under the leadership of Rakesh Man Karmacharya on the first day of the campaign.
Karmacharya said, “We have informed about the blood shortage due to lockdown through the social network site of Facebook.”
They have appealed to the residents of Chagal, Lakhatirtha and Dhumbakhel to donate blood.
The blood is being collected through the blood bank of Bhaktapur. “Donors called them to collect blood when we informed them that door-to-door service was in place. “Accepting our request they donated blood at their home,” he said.
Prakash Amatya, secretary of Nepal Red Cross Society Mahabauddha branch, said the home-based blood donation programme was conducted using all personal safety equipment.
Supply of blood in hospitals will be normal if one person from one house donates blood under the campaign, Amatya said.
“We have maintained social distance and managed health security to protect people from virus. Such door-to-door blood donation campaign is a new practice in the society,” he said.
Of late, a shortage of blood has occurred in health sector when blood donors are compelled to stay at home due to lockdown.
The organisers of the campaign said the door-to-door campaign was launched to meet the demand for blood. In three days, 50 units of blood were collected from 50 blood donors, said Amatya.