Blood centres at PHCs to prevent maternal deaths

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Government proposes blood storage centres in 231 Primary Health Centres (PHC) across the State to prevent  deaths due to excessive blood loss during labour. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr V S Vijay announced this at a blood donation awareness campaign organised by the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS) in association with State Blood Transfusion Council on the occasion of the World Blood Donor Day at the Marina on Tuesday.  Dr Vijay said, “In order to prevent the loss of lives of women during labour in rural areas due to excessive blood loss, the State and the National Rural Health Mission, is planning to set up blood storage centres in 231 PHCs across the state.”Dr Selvaraj, Joint Director-Blood Safety, TANSACS,  said, “Loss of lives in rural pockets could definitely be avoided if there are blood storage banks in the PHCs. This is also one of the reasons contributing to maternal mortality in rural pockets. This is a very good move by the government. This will really help in mitigating the situation in the rural belts.”The Minister also announced that a Plasma Fractionation Centre will be established at the PeripheralGH at Anna Nagar shortly.In keeping with the theme for the year ‘More blood, More life’, the minister said,  “Since blood cannot be artificially produced, motivating voluntary blood donation is the only way to meet the increasing need for blood.”In 2009-2010, a total of 6,32,341 units of blood was collected through 5,315 blood donation camps.To encourage more voluntary blood donation, the Minister also announced that the government would honour those who donated three to four times a year.“Ensuring safe blood for all those who need it is our primary concern. All the blood units received from the blood donors is put through compulsory testing for various infections, including HIV, VDRL, Hepatitis B and C and Malaria,” said V Palanikumar, Project Director, TANSACS.Around 200 young people voluntarily donated blood. Youths and elders joined the signature campaign and also participated in the token painting of the world map with blood drops to symbolise the occasion.