Demand of blood rising in Dang

By Liladhar Oli,Ghorahi, July 31: The demand for blood has been increasing alongside its collection in Dang. With the growing number of hospitals for medical treatment in the district, the demand for blood has also been rising.

Nepal Red Cross Society Dang branch has been providing blood transfusion services from Ghorahi, Lamahi, and Tulsipur. 

Dilip Neupane, Head of the Blood Transfusion Service Centre in Dang, said that a total of 6,293 units of blood were collected and 6,790 units were consumed in the fiscal year 2024/25.

According to him, in the fiscal year 2023/24, a total 5,751 units of blood were collected in the district, while 6,029 units were used. 

In the fiscal year 2022/23, a total of 5,338 units were collected, and 5,500 units were used.  In the last fiscal year, there were 4,340 regular blood donors and 1,953 new donors.

He informed that most of the blood donors in the district fall within the age group between 18 and 30 years and as the number of young donors increases, the blood supply becomes more manageable.

There are a total of 2,221 male and 663 female voluntary donors aged between 18 and 30 years. Similarly, there were 551 male and 111 female voluntary donors of 31 to 40 years.

From Ghorahi Blood Transfusion Centre, the highest amount of blood was collected at 3,298 units, while consumption reached 3,734 units. 

From Tulsipur Blood Transfusion Centre, 1,927 units were collected and 2,101 units used and from Lamahi Blood Transfusion Centre, 1,068 units were collected and 955 units used. 

According to Neupane, around 93 per cent of the collected blood came from voluntary donors, while seven per cent came from replacement donation.

 As the number of patients in hospitals increases, so does the demand for blood, which requires attention to technical equipment and other management aspects.

Neupane said, “As the collected blood is divided and supplied according to patient needs through a blood component machine, it has become more convenient.” 

However, there is only one blood component machine, and if it stop operating for any reason, supplying blood would become a problem. 

The Lumbini provincial government provided the Blood Transfusion Centre with a blood component machine four years ago, allowing the distribution of blood according to patients’ needs.