Make a Difference: A REPORT: ANEMIA AND BLOOD GROUP DETECTION CAMP

India has probably the highest prevalence of nutritional anemia in women and children. About half of the non pregnant women and young children are estimated to suffer from anemia.60-70% of pregnant women are anemic. 20-40% of maternal deaths are attributed to anemia. By far, the most frequent cause of nutritional anemia is iron deficiency and less frequent cause is folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiency¹. Anemia is defined as a condition in which the hemoglobin concentration in the body is below the normal values (12 gm% for females & 13gm% for males).

It is preferable that every individual should know his/her blood group so that no time is wasted during emergency for determining blood group prior to blood transfusion. With these aspects in mind, an anemia and blood group detection camp was held in ESI dispensary Bicholim on 5^th March 2013 on occasion of ESI day celebrations; for the ESI beneficiaries (Insured person and family members). A health talk on anemia was given by the chief guest of the function, Dr Laxmi Narayan a practicing gynecologist. The causes, treatment and preventive aspects of the same were highlighted.

Hemoglobin testing was done using Sahli's method and blood typing done using monoclonal blood typing antibodies for slide test. Hemoglobin results were classified as “normal', “mild anemia”, “moderate anemia” and “severe anemia” based on WHO reference values². Blood grouping was done on basis of ABO and Rh typing i.e. A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-, O+ and O-.

A total of 51 people participated in camp, of which male were 25 (49.02%) and 26 were females. Most of the patients i.e. 47% were between 31-50years and 9.8% were above 60 years. The Prevalance of mild and moderate anemia were 37.25% and 13.73% respectively, with moderate anemia were detected in only female patients.There was no individual with severe anemia.

With respect to blood group, 31.37% individuals were B+; 25.48% were O+; 21.57% A+; 3.92% who were B- and 1.96% was A-. There were no individuals with O- blood type.