KARACHI, Oct 15: The Patients Welfare Association of Civil Hospital Karachi has embarked upon a project to expand and renovate its blood bank facilities soon to be followed by the establishment of a thalassemia centre at the hospital.

The expansion-cum-renovation of the PWA Blood Bank, currently under way at the CHK against an estimated cost of Rs 5 million, is expected to be completed in the current year.

Highlighting the importance of the renovation, PWA volunteers, comprising medical students of Dow University of Health Sciences, told APP that the daily demand of around 200 bags of blood made by different departments of the hospital, as well as by patients from other health care centres across the city, has to be increased due to ever-growing pressure on the PWA blood bank.

The PWA had established its credibility for providing screened blood, and now it plans to increase its storage capacity, from the current 200 bags to around 500 bags, besides provision for separate bleeding areas for men and women donors.

The PWA members said that varied gadgets which could not be installed at the bank due to space paucity would be put into operation in next few months and these include cell separator, cryosuge machine, a new and updated platelet shaker besides freezers and refrigerators.