Blood storage centres to open at Manuguru, Aswaraopet hospitals

Three Blood Storage Centres sanctioned in 2023 at government hospitals in Manuguru, Aswaraopet, and Yellandu are becoming functional starting Wednesday. These centres aim to help patients access blood locally and support emergency surgeries at Area Hospitals and CHCs in the district

Kothagudem: Three Blood Storage Centres sanctioned during the previous BRS regime in 2023 are set to become functional at different government hospitals in the district.

The centres were sanctioned at the Government Area Hospitals in Manuguru and Aswaraopet, and the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Yellandu. However, they could not be started until now due to technical issues. Thanks to proactive efforts by District Collector Jitesh V Patil and District Coordinator of Hospital Services (DCHS) Dr Ravi Babu, the issues have been resolved.

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Permissions to start the centres were granted by the government at the respective hospitals on Tuesday, and they will be available to the public from Wednesday. The centres are expected to save patients from the difficulty of travelling long distances to access blood.

While blood banks were available in Kothagudem and Bhadrachalam, no such facility existed at the Area Hospitals in Aswaraopet and Manuguru until now. A Blood Storage Centre is expected to be opened at Yellandu within a month.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Dr Ravi Babu said the Blood Storage Centres are equipped to store about 200 units of blood. These centres will make it easier to perform surgeries as all the Area Hospitals and CHCs have operation theatres.

Currently, pregnant women and patients suffering from sickle cell anemia, thalassemia and other forms of anemia in Manuguru and Aswaraopet have to travel to Kothagudem, Bhadrachalam, Sathupalli or Paloncha for blood transfusions. That problem is now resolved, he said.

With the availability of blood locally, emergency surgeries can be performed during the golden hour, increasing the chances of saving lives. Dr Ravi Babu thanked Collector Patil for his initiative in securing permissions for the Blood Storage Centres.