Dashain exodus deepens blood shortage in Valley
Summary
Dashain holidays have deepened a severe blood shortage across the Kathmandu Valley, leaving hospitals and blood banks unable to meet urgent demand from patients needing surgery and emergency care. Officials have appealed for immediate blood donation drives as stocks of all blood components run low.
Key Points
- Most blood banks in the Kathmandu Valley have run out of blood components as Dashain holidays reduce donations and hospitals’ demand stays high.
- Nepal Red Cross Society has appealed to individuals, organizations, and institutions to organize blood donation drives to ease the shortage.
- Patients needing urgent treatment, including surgery, Caesarean sections, cancer care, and thalassemia support, are at risk if the shortage continues.
- Officials say blood donation is also constrained because many donors who gave during the August 26 Bhotekoshi flood are not yet eligible to donate again.
