Mangalore: Former Union Minister M. Veerappa Moily on Saturday inaugurated ‘blood component separation unit’, on the premises of Lady Goschen hospital, Mangalore, which is being operated by the Indian Red Cross Blood Bank. The unit, which was set up by BPCL at a cost of Rs 1 crore, is the fourth blood bank in the city to have the facility.
On the occasion, Health and Family Welfare minister U.T Khader unveiled the plaque for the construction of proposed 60 bed MCH wing at the hospital. The hospital will come up at an estimated cost of Rs. 10 crore.
In his key address, Moily said the nation needs to be prepared to face the challenges in health sector. With the increase of population, the health sector is at stake, he said. The former minister gave the example of diseases such as HIV and Ebola virus, which has become a threat to all the countries. Hence, he asked the corporate companies and institutions to join hands with the government in providing better health facilities to the public”.
Khader said rules and regulations will be reviewed periodically to make health sector people-friendly and to reach the benefits to all sections of the society. He spoke about the idea of designing a web portal on blood bank, which will cater to the needs of the patients and connects the blood donor, with a click of a button. He also proposed to start ‘Right to free delivery’, where the state government will look after all the cost from brining the pregnant mother to the hospital to dropping her back home, free of cost.
Appreciating the work of Lady Goschen, the minister said the maternal mortality rate here is almost zero, while infant mortality rate is between 2 to 3 for every 1000 babies. He said, the hospital attends over 6,000 patients every year.
Mangalore City North MLA JR Lobo presided while Mangalore City North MLA BA Mohiuddeen Bava, deputy commissioner AB Ibrahim were guests.
Earlier, Medical Superintendent of Lady Goshchen M.M. Shakuntala told newskarnataka that the unit which started functioning from October 1 will be able to separate blood components. Apart from whole blood, packed red cells, fresh frozen plasma and platelets will be available,” she said.
Dr. Shakuntala informed that on an average around 400 units of blood per month was required for the hospital. Besides, the hospital attends to around 500 delivery cases per month. Earlier hospital had to get blood components from the blood bank at Wenlock Hospital and two other private blood banks, she said.
