It’s World Blood Donors Day on Sunday

It’s World Blood Donors Day on Sunday
Mansi Lavsi / DNASunday, June 14, 2009 13:45 IST

Ahmedabad: On the occasion of World Blood Donors’ Day, a number of programmes and drives will be held across the city on Sunday.

The Prathama Blood Centre has organised events across the city, including blood donation drives and vaccination programmes to be conducted at five venues — Dev Arc Mall, 10 Acre City Mall, Himalaya Mall, Prathama In-House and the Jain Digambar Samaj at Ghatlodia.

The events scheduled on Sunday include the launch of hepatitis-B vaccination and ‘beat anaemia’ programmes for regular blood donors. The Centre has organised a drawing competition for children on the theme of voluntary blood donation and a singing competition for the relatives of blood donors. There will be a talent show for the latter and a lucky draw will be held for regular blood donors.

Hepatitis-B vaccines will be administered and iron tablets will be distributed on Sunday as part of the launch of the two aforementioned programmes for the safety and health of blood donors. These will be conducted at the Prathama In-House.

The global theme for this World Blood Donor Day lays renewed emphasis on improving the safety and sufficiency of blood supplies through the achievement of 100 per cent voluntary non-remunerated donation of blood and blood components. Ahmedabad ranks first in the country among cities with the highest number of blood donors.

The Sri Sathya Sai Baba Seva organisation (founded by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba), which holds around 100 camps every year in collaboration with Red Cross, will conduct drives at Azad Society, Vejalpur and Maninagar on Sunday. “World Blood Donors’ Day is of not much significance to us as we conduct camps on a weekly basis and encourage people to join the noble cause of donating blood,” a member of the organisation said.

DNA India Reference

Sathya Sai Baba Medical Institutions For Blood Drives

Masalila Rallies Batswana To Donate Blood, Save Lives

Masalila Rallies Batswana To Donate Blood, Save Lives
By Potso Thari

FRANCISTOWN – Botswana is in great need of donated blood, says the Assistant Minister of Local Government.

Speaking at the Global Blood Donation Camp day organised by the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation in Francistown over the weekend, Mr Ambrose Masalila said according to the Botswana National Blood Transfusion Service (BNBTS), the country needs about 40 000 units of blood per year but collects only half of that amount per year, which is not adequate.

He said it is also disheartening that just one per cent of the people donate blood annually while about 80 per cent may need blood at some time.

Mr Masalila said it was for this reason that the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation should be applauded for having continued to run these kinds of camps for the past 19 years saying they have been donating blood selflessly for a long time.

He said this is a selfless effort as the organisations and individual donors neither know the recipients of such blood nor the recipients ever know the donor, but that has not stopped them from donating blood.

He said as donated blood is used for various situations, at times critical, it was important for every eligible blood donor to register with the Sri Sathya and the BNBTS to donate blood to save lives.

Mr Masalila said donating blood is a safe measure and no diseases can be transmitted as only new and sterile disposable equipment is used for each donation.

Therefore all those eligible should donate and meet the country’s Vision 2016 pillar of “a compassionate, just and caring nation”.

He further said donating blood was in line with the President’s road map of the four Ds of Development, Democracy, Dignity and Discipline. He said:

“The act of donation of blood supports all these Ds because in a democracy people should practice the act of ‘give’ and ‘take’ which happens when a donor gives blood and a receipt receives it. For development to take place, people should be healthy and for an anaemic patient to feel fully healthy and dignified they need a pinch of blood.

“As for discipline, we can only commit to donate blood regularly if we are disciplined and committed to the exercise”.

The Camp Coordinator, Dr Viera Sayana said about 90 per cent of the blood they collect from the camps was used in hospitals. He appealed to eligible donors to always donate blood as this will save the lives of others.

He also said they usually get more than 100 pints of blood from the camp. It would be nice if more people donate blood. He said contrary to what people might think, donating blood was a healthy exercise. BOPA

Reference