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This is what the Union Health Ministry said in June 2023 while talking about the country's blood shortage.
One unit of blood can save at least three lives, yet, thousands of patients and their caregivers scramble each day to arrange blood for medical procedures.
This has, in some part, to do with the lack of awareness and spread of mis/disinformation around blood donation.
Ahead of World Blood Donor Day on 14 June, let's bust some common myths about blood donation that is keeping more people from doing it.
Fact: Anyone can donate blood regardless of body modifications, provided the work was done at least six months prior to the donation.
Fact: According to Dr Amita Mahajan, Senior Consultant, Paediatric Haematology & Oncology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, the age limit for any healthy person to donate blood is between 18-65 years.
Fact: The intermission period between two blood donations should be 90 days, whereas for plasma donations, it should be 2-3 days. It's perfectly safe to donate blood regularly if you wait for the stipulated time between donations.
Fact: Donations are needed regardless of the blood type.
Though the rare blood groups are more scarce and hence, more in demand, Dr Mahajan emphasises that "people of all blood groups can donate blood, platelets, and plasma."
Fact: When you donate blood, only 350 ml of blood is taken at once. While you may experience some weakness right after donating blood, you'll recover completely within a few hours.
Since the whole process is done in a sterilised manner by medical professionals, it is rare to fall sick or get infected via blood donations.
Fact: Again, this is only a myth. Dr Mahajan tells FIT, "Vegetarians can very well donate blood. Any healthy person regardless of dietary preferences can donate."
However, people who have low haemoglobin levels cannot do so. You need more than 12.5 g/dL of haemoglobin to donate blood.
Fact: People on most medications can donate blood – so long as it does not interfere with their health and the medication has not been started in the past 24 hours.
Fact: "There is no such bias when it comes to donating blood."
However, according to Dr Mahajan, most women in India have a haemoglobin level below 12.5 g/dL. Those who lie above the minimum requirement can donate blood.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)
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