Gift of Blood is Gift of Life! AJ Hospital observes ‘ World Blood Donor Day’
Gift of Blood is Gift of Life! AJ Hospital observes ‘ World Blood Donor Day’ (WBDD) ! What can you do? Give blood. Give now. Give often
“Blood is a lifeline and its value is only recognised when we are in need of it to save the lives of our near and dear ones. Do you feel you don’t have much to offer? You have the most precious resource of all: the ability to save a life by donating blood! Help share this invaluable gift with someone in need. If you’re a blood donor, you’re a hero to someone, somewhere, who received your gracious gift of life. The finest gesture one can make is to save life by donating Blood. The blood donor of today may be recipient of tomorrow”
Mangaluru: Every year, on 14 June, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD). The event serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood. Blood is an important resource, both for planned treatments and urgent interventions. It can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with a higher quality of life, and supports complex medical and surgical procedures. Blood is also vital for treating the wounded during emergencies of all kinds (natural disasters, accidents, armed conflicts, etc.) and has an essential, life-saving role in maternal and perinatal care.
But AJ Blood Bank, in association with A J Hospital and Research Centre-Mangaluru observed “World Blood Donor Day”, one day earlier at the AJ Hospital Conference Hall on Tuesday, 13 June 2017. When we donate blood, one may ask-Where would our blood be going? Who would be helped by it? The answer is simple, Your blood could save a life of a mother? A father? A son or daughter? A baby? An adult? A person battling cancer, sickle cell disease or maybe a person involved in a vehicle accident? Blood donation is a simple, four-step process: registration, medical history and mini-physical, donation and refreshments. It is a safe process, and a sterile needle is used only once for each donor and then discarded.
Sources reveal that the actual blood donation typically takes less than 10-15 minutes. The entire process, from the time you arrive to the time you leave, takes about an hour and 20 minutes. The average adult has about 10 pints of blood in his body. Roughly one pint is given during a donation. A healthy donor may donate red blood cells every 56 days, or double red cells every 112 days. Five-10 minutes of one blood donor’s time + 350 ml. of blood = One life saved! The blood that these 27 donors surely did gave someone another chance at life. One day that someone may be their close relative, a friend, a loved one—or even one of them. By donation of blood meant a few minutes to them, but a lifetime for somebody else. Isn’t it so simple! So why not come forward and donate blood and save a life or lives!
And for that matter, AJ Hospital Blood Bank and its energetic team have been doing yeomen service in collecting as much blood they can from the donors, and help the community when they are in dire need of blood. A blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system. Ensuring safe and sufficient blood supplies requires the development of a nationally coordinated blood transfusion service based on voluntary non-remunerated blood donations. Prior to today’s programme, WBDD was kicked off on 10 June, by organising a CME named ‘Transmed Tech’ ( a CME on applied concepts of Immunohematology and Transfusionn Medicine) for blood bank technicians of four districts including DK, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, and Madikeri, attended by a large participants.
The pogramme began with seeking God’s blessings through a prayer song, followed by welcome address by Dr Aravind P- Blood Bank Officer at AJ Hospital, where he also briefed about the WBBD and also about the Blood Bank at AJ Hospital. The programme was inaugurated by lighting the lamp by Chief Guest-Shantharam Shetty- Chairman, India Red Cross Society DK Unit; along with other dignitaries on the dais namely- Ms Vineetha Rai-NSS Coordinator, Mangalore University; and Dr Amitha P Marla- Director, Medical Administrator, AJ Hospital and Research Centre. During the occasion, the handing over of NABH-Blood Bank Accreditation Certificate was also done, where Dr Aravind P- Blood Bank Officer, and PR Gopalkrishna Q & T Manager of AJ Hospital Blood Bank accepted the certificate from the chief guest.
During the occasion, three regular donors of blood namely Sagar Hegde, Karthik M and Sudeer Kumar were honored. Also a bevy of Blood Donor Camp organizers namely- K Vinayak Rao (Physically Disabled); Chandrahas Shetty (Proprietor of Fortune Health Care services); Dr Naveen Shetty (former principal of Rama Krishna College, Bunts Hostel, Mangaluru); Mohammed Eliyas; Jackson Saldanha (Entrepreneur); Siddiq Manjeshwar (proprietor of a textile business); Shekar (active member of Sri Nithyananda Yogashrama, Uppala); Lokesh Kaje (Active member of VHP and Bajrang Dal); Damodhar Shetty (active member of Adarsha Balaga Association); Ibrahim Karim (Active member of Sunni Student Federation) were presented with mementos for their active service.
Addressing the gathering, Shantharam Shetty said, ” While focusing on this year’s campaign, with the motto “what can you do?”, we should realize that man-made disasters such as road accidents and armed conflicts also generate substantial health care demands and the need for front-line treatment. This year’s campaign will focus on blood donation in emergencies. In crisis or emergency situation, the natural human response is “What can I do? How can I help?”. Therefore, the slogan for the 2017 campaign is: What can you do?, with the secondary message: Give blood. Give now. Give often. Blood transfusion is an essential component of emergency health care. Emergencies increase the demand for blood transfusion and make its delivery challenging and complex. Adequate supply of blood during emergencies requires a well-organized blood service, and this can only be ensured by engaging the entire community and a blood donor population committed to voluntary unpaid blood donation throughout the year.”
“The campaign underlines the role every single person can play in helping others in emergency situations, by giving the valuable gift of blood. It also focuses on the fact that it is important to give blood regularly so that the blood stock is sufficient before an emergency arises. Also there are poor people in need of blood who can’t afford to pay for the blood when needed- in such cases volunteers should come forward and donate blood and help these poor community. I feel proud to say that our local blood bank had received appreciation from the BB governor for donating large quantity of blood to the poor people. So come forward and donate blood, and save lives” added Shetty.
Ms Vineetha Rai and Dr Amitha Marla addressing the gathering stressed on the need of blood donation, which is very much needed these days during emergency cases at various hospitals. Ms Vineetha who noticed that only men were felicitated today for donating blood, urged that women also should come forward and donate blood, and be felicitated next time for their blood donation. She also highlighted the importance of blood donation, and blood being the most precious thing in this world a human being have, convinced the audience to come forward and donate blood, thereby save some precious lives.
Dr Amitha Marla said “Blood donation is a noble service by which needy persons could be helped. Blood donation plays a vital role in saving the lives of three persons in one single unit of blood. By being ready to donate blood many of you have showed that we all are one because the collected blood will help the person in need to save his / her life whether they belonged to any community or religion. Glad to see that you all, including the staff of AJ Hospital are doing yeomen service through blood donation camps. I urge everyone to donate more blood so that more lives are saved-thank you”. The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr Preethal-Blood Bank Officer at AJ Hospital, and the programme was compered by Dr Sindhu Prasad-Patients’ Safety Manager at AJ Hospital.
The objectives of this year’s WBDD campaign is -to encourage all people to strengthen the emergency preparedness of health services in their community by donating blood; to engage authorities in the establishment of effective national blood donor programmes with the capacity to respond promptly to the increase in blood demand during emergencies; to promote the inclusion of blood transfusion services in national emergency preparedness and response activities; to build wider public awareness of the need for committed, year-round blood donation, in order to maintain adequate supplies and achieve a national self-sufficiency of blood; to celebrate and thank individuals who donate blood regularly and to encourage young people to become new donors as well; to promote international collaboration and to ensure worldwide dissemination of and consensus on the principles of voluntary non-remunerated donation, while increasing blood safety and availability.
In conclusion- some of you may ask-Why Donate Blood? You don’t need a special reason to give blood; you just need your own reason. Some of us give blood because we were asked by a friend. Some know that a family member or a friend might need blood some day. Some believe it is the right thing we do. The number one reason donors say they give blood is because they “want to help others.” Whatever your reason, the need is constant and your contribution is important for a healthy and reliable blood supply. And you’ll feel good knowing you’ve helped change a life.
A life may depend on a gesture from you, a bottle of Blood. To give blood you need neither extra strength nor extra food, and you will save a life. Blood Donation will cost you nothing but it will save a life! Tears of a mother cannot save her Child. But your Blood can. To the young and healthy it’s no loss. To sick, it’s hope of life. Donate Blood to give back life. Blood is meant to circulate. Pass it around. Share a little, care a little – Donate Blood. Also on 14 June, Dr Aravind P- Blood Bank Officer, AJ Hospital Blood Bank will deliver a special awareness talk on Blood Donation and its benefits.
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And when you decide to donate blood contact your local Red Cross Society or AJ Hospital Blood Bank. Remember that the Gift of Blood is the Gift of Life. So donate blood today-it’s a Bloody Good Job! Thank You!
For more details Contact PR Gopalkrishna -Q & T Manager at AJ Hospital Blood Bank at 9164477466.
