In view of the rising dengue cases in the city, the department of Lifelong Learning and Extension, University of Mumbai, in collaboration with an NGO has decided to offer blood on call services for students who have participated and donated blood during the NSS-conducted blood donation camps. Officials said the initiative was started after some students complained about not being able to receive blood when required.
An official said every year the NSS unit of the MU organises blood donation camps in various districts; however after the blood is given to hospitals and blood banks, there is no track of where or how it is used.
“There have been instances when some students needed blood urgently for relatives who had met with accidents but could not get the same,” said an official from the department. To address this problem, the department has decided to keep a meeting on November 15 to discuss the implementation of the Blood on Call scheme.
A website for implementing the scheme was prepared wherein students from the 200 colleges that offer programmes run by the department can register for the Blood on Call option. The scheme will be initially available on the Mumbai Goa highway which sees a large number of accidents. A 24-hour helpline number will also be started for registered members.
He said the scheme would also ensure that students donating the blood would directly donate it to the patient rather than giving it to the blood bank “Volunteers staying in the vicinity will be asked to go directly to the hospital where the blood is needed through the helpline and the patient can get fresh blood of the type required,” said Dr Patil.
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