The World Blood Donation Day on 14 June may have already passed us, but Kathmandu is still ‘giving blood, and giving life’. Our photojournalist Bikram Rai captured these scenes of voluntary donors at a campaign organised by Central Blood Transfusion Service of the Red Cross Society in Teku on Saturday.
A donor answers some questions such as illnesses and operations he’s had, his blood group, weight, and the last time he donated blood before his blood pressure is taken.Once the needle is in place, it usually takes 15 minutes to draw a blood unit. Statistics say 84.4% of donors in Nepal are men while 15.6% are women.Donors sit on comfortable chairs. After donation they will receive a small snack and juice. The Red Cross runs a network of 85 blood centres and hospitals in 62 districts and supplies 500 bags of blood every day.Blood bags are stored in cooling boxes to transport them after the day’s programme is over. The Red Cross later tests the blood for hepatitis B, C, HIV and syphilis, and rechecks blood group for confirmation.
For more information:
Central Blood Transfusion Service, Red Cross Society
