Sankranti hangover hits blood donation

Sankranti hangover hits blood donation
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Highlights

Massive consumption of liquor by a large number of people, particularly youth, during Sankranti festival resulted in poor response to blood donation camps conducted to mark the death anniversary of TDP founder and former chief minister N T Rama Rao on Thursday across the district. 

NTR DEATH ANNIVERSARY

Srikakulam: Massive consumption of liquor by a large number of people, particularly youth, during Sankranti festival resulted in poor response to blood donation camps conducted to mark the death anniversary of TDP founder and former chief minister N T Rama Rao on Thursday across the district.

  • TDP leaders faced a tough time in getting blood donors for the occasion
  • In Palasa, 172 persons were sent back by doctors due to more than permissible trace of alcohol in blood
  • Blood donation camps were not held in some Assembly constituencies owing to lack of donors

According to prohibition and excise superintendents of Palasa and Srikakulam divisions M Bhaskar and G Nageswar Rao, liquor worth Rs 8 crore was consumed on the occasion of Sankranti.

Normally, blood cannot be donated for 48 to 72 hours after consumption of liquor as the alcohol remains in blood. “Waiting more than 24 hours is advisable after consuming liquor to donate blood. If a person consumes liquor in heavy quantity, he has to wait for more than 48 hours to donate blood,” said district medical and health officer (DM&HO), Dr Sanapala Tirupathi Rao told The Hans India.

According to Indian Red Cross Society district chairman P Jaganmohan Rao, the number of blood donors confined to 402 on Thursday, which is 121 less compared to last year’s 523. In view of liquor consumption, TDP leaders could not conduct blood donation camps in four Assembly constituencies of Tekkali, represented by minister for transport K Atchannaidu, Pathapatnam, Palakonda and Narasannapeta.

Palasa recorded highest number of blood donations (280) among all Assembly constituencies in five districts from Srikakulam to West Godavari. The constituency is represented by GSS Sivaji and his daughter G Sirisha is TDP district president.

Interestingly, the same Palasa sets another record regarding rejections due to liquor consumption as 172 persons were sent back by doctors at the camps because of more than permissible content of alcohol in their blood. Five persons in Etcherla and 23 in Rajam were sent back for the same reason.

‘Mobilization of public for blood donation is tough job for us every year as NTR’s death anniversary followed by Sankranti festival’ TDP district president, G.Sirisha expressed her experiences in gathering public.

By Chowdari Lakshmana Rao

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