SHIKARPUR: Shikarpur district has been still depriving of a blood bank facility for long and due to lack of facility the needy people of district have been compelled to visit other districts for blood needs. The relatives of Thalassemia patients in particular remained under mental agony as they had to arrange blood every month for their children in difficult conditions. There are three tehsil headquarter hospitals including Lakhi Ghulam Shah, Khanpur, Garhi Yasin and one district headquarters hospital Shikarpur, but there is neither any blood centre nor blood bank for thalassemia patients. Dr Naeem Ahmed, Additional Medical Superintendent, Rai Bahadur Udhodas Tara Chand Civil Hospital Shikarpur there was immediate need of a blood bank in order to cater the need of blood of patients and especially thalassemia affected children. There is no any blood bank in government hospitals. He said timely blood supply to such children could bring hope for survival before they reach 15 years terminal age of ailment. Naveed Alam Abro, a human rights activist of Shikarpur showed his intention to donate his land for construction of a blood bank. Abdul Sattar Kaladi, President Awami Ittehad Shikarpur was of the view successive rulers have ruined all running hospitals, educational institutes and other public facilities. He urged the rulers as well as philanthropists to come forward and help in building a blood bank in Shikarpur on humanitarian basis. In addition citizens of Shikarpur have demanded Chief Minister Sindh, district administration and philanthropist to build a blood bank for the masses of Shikarpur. Published in Daily Times, July 31st , 2017.