Yadgir district gets its first blood bank at YIMS

Minister for Small Scale Industries and Public Enterprises Sharanabasappa Darshanapur inaugurating a blood bank at Yadgir Institute of Medical Science in Yadgir on January 6, 2024.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Several years after its establishment, the district hospital in Yadgir got a blood bank on January 6.

Minister for Small Scale Industries and Public Enterprises Sharanabasappa Darshanapur inaugurated the blood bank at Yadgir Institute of Medical Science (YIMS), which is attached to the district hospital.

Despite continuous efforts by local MLA Channareddy Patil Tunnur, the officials of the Health Department and YIMS, the demand for the blood bank had remained on paper. The authorities and elected representatives had raised the issue during the recent visit of Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil to the hospital. He had assured to take requisite steps.

Referring to the continuous efforts made for the establishment of the blood bank, Mr. Darshanapur said that the new facility would be of great help to patients in the district. He promised to make efforts to get funds for additional equipment at the blood bank.

Mr. Channareddy Patil Tunnur, who made consistent efforts to get the blood bank sanctioned, expressed happiness over the demand being met. “Doctors should encourage the general public and organisations to donate blood here,” he said.

Earlier, the Health Department was dependent on private blood banks to meet the demand for blood.. “Following an MOU, private blood banks in Kalaburagi and Raichur used to supply an average of 150 units of blood every month, which was very less compared to the demand. Now, in the new facility, we can collect and store a minimum of 800 units per month,” District Surgeon Rizwana Afreen told The Hindu.

At the inauguration of the blood bank, YIMS Dean Sandeep and Rizwana Afreen donated blood to encourage others to do the same.

Mr. Darshanapur wished the students who got admission in the newly established nursing college at YIMS by lighting a lamp during the event in which Deputy Commissioner B. Susheela, Chief Executive Officer Lavish Ordia, District Health Officer Mahesh Biradar, and Mudnal Gram Panchayat President Vinod Rathod were present.