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Text message to help blood donors visit centres
The National Blood Transfusion Service, the blood bank, is seeking approval from the Defence Ministry for donors to use a text message as a curfew pass to come to donation centres.
Its director, Dr. Lakshman Edirisinghe, said a significant drop in the number of donors during the curfew led to the request.
“Our main donations come from mobile camps. With the present pandemic situation and curfew imposed it is impossible to organise mobile blood donations. Last week we introduced two 24 hour hotlines [011-5332153, 011-5332154] for donors to reserve before arrival at the donation centre. But this was during the self-quarantine period. Once the curfew was imposed the donor numbers reduced drastically,” said Dr. Edirisinghe.
“When the curfew severely affected blood donations, we appealed from the forces. As a result we received adequate stocks for the next few days. Yet, we cannot solely depend on forces personnel as they are heavily involved in the programme to control the coronavirus pandemic. Hence we requested Defence Ministry to release and facilitate people who are willing to donate blood.’’
The Colombo district, now declared as high risk for the virus, has the most number of mobile blood donation camps.
“Closures of government offices and private sector offices have a direct impact on blood donation. However, low number of traffic accidents and routine surgeries during this curfew period has reduced the demand for blood as well. But blood is needed for cancer and thalassemia patients as well as children requiring platelets,” Dr. Edirisinghe said.
Among the added criteria is the disqualification if a donor has traveled overseas during the past three months and family members who have been exposed to those who arrived from overseas.
“Our IT section is prepared with the platform and once the approval is received we are planning to go ahead,’’ he said.