Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper about opinion blood donation camp in this covid 19 situation
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The World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30th January, 2020, and a COVID-19 pandemic on 11th March, 2020 (1). As of 6th July 2020, more than 11.56 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported across the globe, resulting in more than 536,786 deaths; more than 6.53 million people have recovered (2).
This pandemic has resulted in development of severe panic and fear among the people for their safety and survival. Many countries have enforced lockdown to all activities leading to the postponement or cancellation of many sporting, religious, political, and cultural events. Nationwide all schools, colleges and universities have been closed. Misinformation about the virus has been circulated through social media and the mass media.
These factors have seriously affected one significant area of healthcare delivery—availability of adequate quantities of safe and quality blood in the Blood Centres across the country. More than 80% of the nation blood supply comes from voluntary non-remunerated blood donors (VNRD), who through their altruistic act keeps the shelves of the Blood Centre filled up with blood units throughout the year. Ever since the lockdown has been announced in the country from 25th March 2020 onwards, all movements of citizens have come to a standstill. All the educational institutions, industries, social organizations, IT sectors are closed down across the country. Outdoor blood donation camps are mainly organized by these sectors. Suddenly without any prior arrangements, blood donation came to a grinding halt. The situation became worse with no blood donation camps being organized, no people were willing to visit blood center for donation and many healthcare workers were put into quarantine. With a large number of populations being affected with COVID-19 and many of their family members and close contacts going for either institutional or home quarantine, the population of eligible blood donors is also shrinking. This is a matter of big concern for National blood supply.