Nearly 20% Guwahati scribes have low hemoglobin

Guwahati: In an alarming revelation, one in five scribes of the city has been found vulnerable for anemia. A recent hemoglobin (Hb or Hgb) screening camp, organized by pioneer healthcare institute Down Town Hospital at Guwahati Press Club, reveals that nearly 20% city based journalists were diagnosed with low hemoglobin (below 12 gram per deciliter) in their blood.

The hemoglobin test measures the amount of Hb, which is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to various organs & tissues and also transports carbon-dioxide back to lungs.

Ideally, if the hemoglobin level is lower than 13.5 gm/dl (for man) and 12.0 gm/dl (for woman), the person may have anemia, said Dr NN Dutta, a practicing physician and chairman cum managing director of Down Town Hospital.

The brief camp, organized under the series of media OPD (out-patient department) clinics at the press club premises on 18 May 2019, also identified very few (less than 3 %) participants with elevated hemoglobin (more than 18 gm/dl), which is also not healthy.

Besides blood tests (also for sugar & grouping), the media clinic facilitated healthcare consultations from experienced physicians namely Dr Hrishikesh Bora, Dr Gaurav Kedia and Dr Rohini Kumari to over 40 participants with sizable number of females, along with measuring their blood pressure.