This issue of Blood Line

is dedicated to repeat regular

voluntary blood donors2011 18

Dr. Meena DAdditional ProfessorTransfusion Medicine

Medical College HospitalTRIVANDRUM

The goal of any Transfusion Service isto provide blood components that aresafe for transfusion and that pose min-imal risk of transfusion transmissibleinfections. To achieve maximum safe-ty, requires a multilayered risk reduc-tion strategy involving safe blood do-nors, safe blood components and safetransfusion practices. Obtaining safeblood donors who have a low risk ofcarrying transfusion transmissible infec-tion require effective donor selectionand screening strategies. Safe transfu-sion practices are essential so that thecorrect blood is given to the correctpatient and given only when it is trulyneeded.As a first step to achieve this goal ,theNational Blood Transfusion Council wasstarted in India in the year 2002 for theBlood Policy and Action plan which in-clude rationalization of Blood Trans-fusion Service achieving 100 percent-age blood collection from voluntarynon-remunerated blood donors and in-stitution of quality systems in bloodcenters. Quality system must be com-

prehensive, from the recruitment and se-lection of blood donors to the transfu-sion of blood and blood products to thepatient and should reflect the needs ofthe clinicians and patients served.Pledge 25, a youth programme initiat-ed in Zimbabwe which has significant-ly contributed to the safety of the na-tional blood supply, is an innovativeapproach to the recruitment and reten-tion of young voluntary non remuner-ated blood donors from low risk popu-lation. The success of the pledge 25 clubhas generated interest in many devel-oping countries and the approach waspromoted as part of the activities of theWorld Health Day 2000. At that timeWHO worked together with Internation-al Federation of Red Cross and Red Cres-cent Societies, International Society of Blood Transfusion and InternationalFederation of Blood Donor organiza-tions to launch World Blood Donor Dayon 14th June 2004.This was designedto raise awareness about the vital needfor voluntary non remunerated blooddonation from low risk population andto applaud the contribution made byblood donors.The most important stakeholder for theBlood Transfusion Service is the BloodDonor.An effective and safe blood trans-fusion service requires a programmeaimed at motivation, recruitment andretention of voluntary non remunerat-ed regular blood donors, an effectivedonor screening and selection processand a donor deferral registry.Donor recruitment is inducting suitablepersons to donate blood. People have to be motivated to become blood do-

nors. The ability to motivate is a skillthat that can be taught. Motivation pro-grammes use various strategies and dif-ferent media to educate and motivatepotential donor groups. Surveys doneworld wide indicate that young peopleare easier to motivate and demonstra-tion of blood donation by peers is agood motivation factor.Very often thereason why people do not donate bloodis because they did not know that it wasneeded. “Nobody asked me” is a com-mon refrain that has to be tackled withan effective awareness programme. Making the blood donation process asconvenient and easy as possible by hav-ing mobile blood donation camps at theworkplaces or Universities increase col-lection.

Blood Donor Retention

Regular repeat blood donors enhanceblood safety. Studies show that bloodobtained from regular non-remuneratedvoluntary blood donors show only veryfew positive results for infectiousdiseases than blood obtained from thefirst time and replacement blooddonors.A safe and pleasant first timedonation experience with good donorcare promotes repeat donation.Appreciation and recognition shown inthe form of small mementoes likecertificates and badges are helpful.Being in touch with donors throughmessages or newsletter, continuousefforts to improve services, confidenceand trust in Blood Transfusion Service,support for the donors own need forblood and getting donor feed back andcomplaints are also effective donorretention strategies.

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Sometimes regular donors stopdonating and are called lapsed donors.This may be because of medical reasons,dissatisfaction with Blood TransfusionServices due to poor donor care or notgetting timely help when they needblood, inconvenient time or place todonate and so on. The reasons for thelapse should be rectified as soon aspossible.Voluntary non remunerated donors giveblood with the purely altruistic motiveof helping an unknown patient and notfor payment or any favor. They respondreadily to an appeal for blood donationand donate blood regularly. They givemore reliable information during donorscreening and self defer if there has beenany behavior placing them at risk ofcontracting hepatitis, AIDS or othercommunicable diseases. Therefore theincidence of transfusion transmissibleinfections is very low in this donorgroup.

Paid donors give blood in return forpayment or other favors. The worldwide experience indicates a highincidence of transfusion associatedinfections among them. Paid donationshave been banned in India since 1998.Replacement donors replace the bloodissued by the blood centre to theirrelatives or friends, they may be lesstruthful when asked screening questionsor less likely to self defer and thuscompromise blood safety. Directeddonors give blood prospectively to aspecific named patient, This should beavoided among close relatives or thedonation must be subjected toirradiation since donation from closerelatives can lead to the rare,butinvariably fatal ,transfusion associatedgraft versus host diseases. Autologousdonors donate blood for their own usewhich ensures safety for them.Ensuring safe blood is Government’shighest priority. For generation of

blood through voluntary blood donationprogramme the Government of India hastaken a number of steps like messageson voluntary blood donation broadcastthrough TV, Radio channels duringprime time. NACO with the help ofCentral Health Education Bureau hasdeveloped IEC materials for one to onecommunication on voluntary blooddonation programmes in the form offolders, posters, stickers etc.Every year 1st of October is celebratedas National Voluntary Blood DonationDay. Special campaigns to educate themasses and special camps for bloodcollection are organized. There are anumber of Non GovernmentalOrganizations in the country which areprimarily engaged in the task ofgenerating blood from voluntarydonors. Our aim should be 100 %voluntary blood donation for safeblood transfusion.

World Aids Day Observance-Inaugural Ceremony

Ms.SherinClub 25 Member, All Saint’s College

Delivering The Vote of Thanks

Mr. C Balagopal, Managing DirectorTERUMO PENPOL Limited

Delivering The Inaugural Address

Ms. Mabil P S, PrincipalAll Saints College

Delivering The Presidential Address

Ms. Mary MettildaClub 25 Coordinator, All Saints College

Welcoming The Gathering

Mr C Balagopal, Managing Director of TERUMO PENPOLLimited releasing the first

issue of book on “Informatics and Bioinformatics” written

by Ms. Sini Benjamin, ZoologyLecturer of All Saints College

on World AIDS Day

Mr. K.P Rajagopalan, GeneralSecretary of KEBS sharing his

experience about BloodDonation

Mr.K P Rajagopalan retired LaySecretary from Govt Hospital is aregular Blood Donor who had donatedblood 98 times and is a motivator. Hespends his retired life by takingclasses on Blood Donation for collegeStudents, NGOs and ResidentialAssociations.

Skit on Safe Blood DonationOrganized By All Saint’s College

Students on World AIDS Day

Candle Light Rally Organizedby All Saint’s College Students

on World AIDS Day

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Dr.Amar Fettle, Faculty, HealthyServices, Government of

Kerala ,talking to the studentsabout “HIV/AIDS Care

Counseling and Prevention”

Dr.Shaiji P S was the QUIZ Master forthe QUIZ on Safe Blood Donationorganized by TERUMO PENPOLLimited for College Students on WorldAIDS Day.

Dr.Shaiji P S, Jr Resident,Transfusion Medicine

Department, Medical College,Trivandrum asking questions

during a Quiz Competition onSafe Blood Donation

World AIDS Day Observance

Terumo Penpol Limited observed WorldAIDS Day in association with AllSaint’s College on 1 December. Mr. CBalagopal, Managing Director ofTERUMO PENPOL Limited inauguratedthe function and Ms. Mabil P S, Princi-

pal of All Saints College presided over the function.Mr. C Balagopal released the first issue of book on Informatics and Bioinformaticswritten by Ms. Siny G Benjamin,Zoology Lecturer of All Saints College and he hadinaugurated the launch of red ribbon club at All Saint’s College.Dr.Amar Fettle, Faculty, Health Services made a presentation “HIV AIDS CareCounseling and Prevention”.Mr. K P Rajagopalan, General Secretary (KEBS) made an awareness session onBlood and Blood Donation.Dr.Shaiji P S and Dr Chitra Elizabeth Jr. Residents of MCH Transfusion MedicineDepartment organized a Quiz Competition for the Students of All Saint’s College.A Skit on safe blood donation was organized by the Students. A Rally was alsoorganized in and around the College by the Students.BIG FM Radio was the official Radio Partner and they had given wide coverageabout the event. Yentha.com was the online Media Partner and they had publishedthe news in their website.

Thanks to BIG FM forSupporting Voluntary

Blood Donation Activities

Ancy of BIG FM organized funny gamesfor Students and distributed gifts to theStudents on World AIDS Day.

A blood grouping cum donation camppreceded by awareness class on Bloodand Organ Donation, poster session anddistribution of IEC materials were con-ducted successfully at Marampally. Thewell attended camp was formally inau-gurated by Mrs. P.A Fathima (MES Col-lege) at a function presided over by Mrs.

Shemi (Program Officer, NSS Unit).Laminated blood group identity cardsand donor cards (offering right to a unitof blood without replacement) and pro-motional materials like fancy key chainswere given to donors and certificate ofappreciation to the organizers.

Voluntary Blood Donation camp at MESCollege, Marampally, Aluva

Hearty Congrats to Dr. N Vijayakumar, Medical Officer,Regional Blood Transfusion Center, Aluva

IMA National Award Committee has conferred “IMA Special Award To EminentMedical Men For Distinguished Achievement of Highest Order” to Dr. N Vijayakumar.Dr Vijayakumar has received awards of honor from the Kerala State Aids ControlSociety for his contribution in the field of blood donor motivation and also forcreating awareness regarding HIV/AIDS. He is a designated Transfusion MedicineExpert for KSACS & NACO and a State Resource Person for the Training of BloodBank Technicians & Medical Officers. Dr.Vijaya Kumar is also in the QualityAssurance Committee of the State Blood Transfusion Council as well as in the CoreCommittee constituted by NACO to monitor the functioning of blood banks in thestate. He has been selected for the prestigious A.N.Kashyap National Award ofIndian Society of Blood Transfusion & Immunohaematology for most outstandingperformance in voluntary blood donation field in India in November 2009.

AAAAAwardwardwardwardward

4

1. Reduce the chance of heartdiseasesIt has been noted that increase in bloodiron level increases the risk of heartdisease. Iron is involved in the oxida-tion of cholesterol and this process isfound to be detrimental for the arter-ies. Sullivan has long suspected thatblood iron levels help explain why aman’s risk of heart disease begins ear-lier than a woman’s. Women lose blood— and lower their iron levels — eachtime they menstruate. Men, on the oth-er hand, begin storing iron in body tis-sues starting in their twenties, which isjust about the time their heart attackdanger begins to climb. According toVictor Herbert, M.D., a Hematologistat the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine inNew York City, there are normally about1,000 milligrams of iron “stored” in theaverage adult man’s body but only about300 milligrams in a premenopausalwoman’s. Once women stop menstru-ating, however, their iron levels — andtheir heart disease risk — begin toclimb, eventually matching that ofmen. Increased blood iron levelfavours this process of cholesterol oxi-dation and thus leads to heart disease.Regular blood donation helps especial-ly males in loosing iron on a regularbasis. It helps in reducing the chanceof heart attack to one third. In a studyof 2,682 men in Finland reported in theSeptember 1998 issue of the AmericanJournal of Epidemiology. Men who do-

HEALTH BENEFITS OF DONATING BLOODDr.N.Vijayakumar, Medical Officer, Regional Blood Transfusion Centre, Aluva

nated blood at least once a year had an88 percent lower risk of heart attacksthan non-donors. Another study pub-lished in the August 1997 issue of Heartfound that men who donated blood wereless likely than non-donors to showsigns of cardiovascular disease.2.Enhance the production of newRed Blood CellsAs the blood is withdrawn from thedonor’s body there is decrease in bloodcells. This stimulates production oferythropoietin, which in turn triggersbone marrow to produce more red cells,and this way blood gets refreshed.Therefore donating blood helps instimulating generation of new bloodcells.3. Helps in fightinghemochromatosisHemochromatosis is a genetic disorder;also know as iron overload disorderwherein iron accumulates in the bodytissue because or improper ironmetabolism. This condition may leadto Cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes due topancreatic islet cell failure,Cardiomyopathy, Arthritis (irondeposition in joints), Testicular failure.Though this problem is uncommon inIndians, people with little iron overloadalso can easily donate blood and reducetheir iron content. Taking example fromother countries, one in every 300-400people in England suffers from thisdisorder and American Red Cross bloodservices accept such donors as safe

donor as it’s a genetic disorder, it won’tbe harmful to the person receivingblood from such donors. However,blood from Polycythaemia patients isnot cleared for transfusion to patients.4.Burns caloriesOne can diet or remain fit by donatingblood regularly. One pint of blood (450ml) when donated burns 650 caloriesin donor’s body.5.Invigorated feeling in elderlypeopleSeveral studies have suggested thatelderly people in good health havereported feeling invigorated orreenergized by giving blood on aregular basis. The upper age limit forblood donation in India is 60 years.However in developed countries thereis no limit. The age limit that preventsregular blood donors from continuingto give blood beyond their 70th birthdayhas been scrapped in 2009 in UnitedKingdom.6.Basic blood test is doneApart from all these benefits a donorgets a mini blood test done beforedonating blood. This includesHematocrit i.e. HB level test, BloodPressure is measured, body weight ischecked. After the blood is collected ittested for 5 major diseases. Those areHepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, Syphilisand Malaria. The Medical Officerimmediately informs donor personallyif any of these test found to be positive.

To

Editor,Blood LineSub: Letter to the Editor FAIR REFRESHMENTS TO BLOOD DONORSDear Editor,

It was indeed shocking to know that hospitality extended to blood donors byhospital authorities is derogatory from the letter of Wing Commander D. SendhilKumar. They seldom give explanations to their bad deeds; but the least all of usexpect is, regretting themselves, improve upon the refreshments.BHEL, which was my employer of the past, used to give two boiled eggs and atumbler full (remember Punjabi tumbler!) of milk to the donor. If he/she is ouremployee he/she gets rest for the rest of the day too.

Regards,

Malippuram Khalid,Editor, IEI Update, News Monthly of Kochi Centre,The Institution of Engineers (India),St. Benedict Road, KOCHI – 682 018E-mail: malippuram@gmail.comPhone: 9447602644

Dear Madam,

I wish to introduce myself as aregular blood donor- for the last fourand half decades. I happen to cross mycentury in the field of voluntary blooddonation over a couple of decades ago.I am also the Liaison Officer of the IMABlood Bank in Coimbatore. Yourmagazine “BLOOD LINE” is one of thebest periodicals line come across in mylifetime. In particular your issue 2010/17 dedicated to repeat regularvoluntary blood donors. May I requestto your very interesting, informativeperiodical. I wish some of your goodnessrub off on the youth of Tamilnadu. Thanking you,RTN.MPHF.PP. ARUN GOKULDASCoimbatore

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Dear Blood-friends,

We, would like to inform you

that many of the patients & relatives of

them are suffering a lot due to scarcity

of Blood “+ - A B AB O” for

treatment at Regional Cancer

Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.

Now-a-days many of them are

wandering or running here& there for

their need for blood. Many of the

professional and paid donors are taking

advantage of this situation. To keep

away these unsocial animals and to get

SAFE BLOOD to the needy we

earnestly appeal you to make a joined

movement to donate blood at RCC and

to promote Altruistic Voluntary Blood

Donation and motivate your friends

& relatives to become Regular

Repeated Altruistic Voluntary

Blood Donors. This altruistic act of

kindness will give some expectations to

their lives to survive for further

treatment.

All the Voluntary Blood Donors

are advised to get a good night’s

sleep on the previous day of blood

donation, having a good breakfast

or lunch, and drinking extra

water and fluids (4 or 5 glasses)

within 2 hours of the blood donation

will help the donor to ensure a

successful blood donation. A well-

hydrated body will keep away the donor

from any dizziness, nausea, etc. Donors

are also advised to avoid eating fatty

foods, and to eat plenty of food rich in

iron and Vitamin C in the days leading

up to the donation. Wearing

comfortable clothing with sleeves that

can be raised above the elbow is also

recommended.

Donating blood is simple, and

takes about half an hour from the time

you arrive until the time you leave. This

half an hour, we say that could amount

to a lifetime for someone who needs

blood for ongoing or emergency

medical care.

“Blood is a gift that money can’t

buy,”. “It’s only something that

one person can give to another

and that ‘s priceless.

Blood donation, the voluntary

act of allowing one’s blood to be drawn

out of body has many advantages

besides giving that wonderful feeling of

saving someone’s life. Most of the time

it is an act of charity, though some times

many people donate blood for money

and other incentives. The blood donated

is stored in blood banks, to be

subsequently used for transfusion.

No doubt the first and foremost

advantage of donating blood is the

exalted feeling of saving someone’s life.

If we donate the little excess blood in

our body, it could save someone’s life

without creating any problem for us.

Instead it would help to alleviate

some major health problems like

heart diseases. Blood donation is an

excellent way to get rid of excess iron

accumulated in our body due to it’s over

consumption. Excess iron in the body

can stimulate the formation of free

radicals, which are responsible for

causing damage to body cells and

tissues. Free radicals are also associated

with many diseases like heart diseases

and cancer. Iron overloading is also

thought to increase the risk of heart

diseases. Besides, iron oxidizes

cholesterol, which is harmful for the

arteries. Hemochromatosis is a genetic

disease characterized by excess

accumulation of iron in the tissues due

to improper metabolism. The disease

can cause damage to many organs like

pancreas, adrenal glands, etc. It may

also cause diabetes, liver diseases and

heart diseases. So, donating blood

on a regular basis would help

you to regulate the level of iron

in your body. Studies have shown that

donating blood regularly can be

beneficial for the heart and circulatory

system and can reduce the risk of heart

diseases, especially among young

people.

Besides, blood donation also

burns the extra calories and reduces

your cholesterol level. After donating

blood, the count of blood cells

decreases in our body, which stimulates

the bone marrow to produce new red

blood cells in order to replenish the loss.

So, it stimulates the production of new

blood cells and refreshes the system.

Before donating blood, your

hemoglobin level will be tested. If it is

low, then you will not be allowed to

donate blood. Besides hemoglobin, your

blood pressure level and body weight

will also be checked. In addition, your

blood will also be examined for

detecting the presence of five diseases,

namely, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C,

Syphilis, HIV/AIDS and Malaria. If you

are not suffering from these diseases,

only then you will be allowed to donate

your blood.

There are no major

disadvantages of donating blood,

except that sometimes one may

experience a drop in blood pressure due

to hypoglycemia (a state of reduced

blood volume), which may necessitate

cancellation of donation. Sometimes,

one may also experience mild nausea

or dizziness for a short while. But if

you compare the health benefits and

mental satisfaction that comes from

saving a life, you will feel that benefits

of this act of charity is not only

restricted to the recipient, but also helps

the donor immensely

It is the responsibility and

commitment of the society to make

available SAFE BLOOD. The only

source to get safe blood is to motivate

the blood donors to become Regular

Repeated Altruistic Voluntary

Blood Donors.

“HURRY ! ............... TO

BE REGULAR REPEATED

VOLUNTARY BLOOD DONOR

FOR SAFE BLOOD !”

warm regards,

K P RajagopalanGeneral Secretary(KEBS)

An AppAn AppAn AppAn AppAn Appeal Teal Teal Teal Teal To Yo Yo Yo Yo Youngstoungstoungstoungstoungsters Fers Fers Fers Fers Frrrrrom Mrom Mrom Mrom Mrom Mr.K P R.K P R.K P R.K P R.K P Rajagopajagopajagopajagopajagopalan,alan,alan,alan,alan,

GGGGGenenenenenerererereral Sal Sal Sal Sal Secrecrecrecrecretaretaretaretaretaryyyyy, All K, All K, All K, All K, All Kerererererala Bloala Bloala Bloala Bloala Blooooood Dd Dd Dd Dd Donononononororororor’’’’’s Ss Ss Ss Ss Sooooocietcietcietcietciety(KEBS)y(KEBS)y(KEBS)y(KEBS)y(KEBS)

6

I have started my blooddonation activities during my collegelife at TKM Engineering College,Kollam. National Service Scheme unitwas very active in TKM College ofEngineering and blood donation was themost regular NSS activity in TKM. Fromalmost all the hospitals like GovtDistrict Hospital and all other majorPrivate Hospitals, relatives of patientsused to come to college to get donors.Program Officer Dr.B Premlet was themotivation for my activities and I gotmany opportunities to help manypeoples from all categories of ourcommunity in many emergencysituations by arranging students forblood donation. Blood donation activityin TKM engineering college was verysystematic. Every year one student wasselected as Blood secretary forcoordinating the activities. Every yearfor freshers we used to conduct bloodgrouping camp and Blood secretary willkeep the register of donors-contact infoand blood group. When the requirementcomes he will contact respective grouppersons and arrange for donation. Wealso used to conduct Voluntary DonationCamps in campus. Girls were alwaysready to donate in camps. I take thisopportunity to thank all my TKMcollege mates for their great mind andsupport for my blood donation activitiesespecially NSS friends, Program Officer,Premlet sir , College Union ChairmanGirikrishnan etc.

When I joined in IIT Madras formy post graduation, I never expect Iwill get any chance to work in blooddonation activities in that prime aca-demic institution. But blood donationactivity was not limited to NSS volun-teers in IITM. In each hostel a studentwas given responsiblity of arrangingblood for needy people. Requirementwas very high in IIT since persons fromAdayar cancer centre and Railway hos-pital used to come to IIT regularly forblood. Later when I joined in VSSC, Icame to know that an official Blooddonation forum is there in VSSC forsupporting the employees and their rel-atives. Initially I didn’t enter to blooddonation activities in office. But once Igot a call from my TKM batch matefrom Bangalore for one negative groupblood for his aunty in trivandrum . That

WE HAVE A LOT TO DO …time I understood the situation is badand same as my college days andthought of going back to my blood do-nation activities. Once I attended a oneday camp arranged by All Kerala BloodDonors Society(KEBS) at Govt HospitalPeroorkada and understood that whatever I had done was nothing. In thatmeeting I met many people like Dr. KMohandas, Mr. U.Suresh Kumar(Present PSC Member), Mr. K. P. Raja-gopalan (Health Department), Mr. ByjuNellimood (Business Man), Mr. V.KChandrasekara Pillai (VSSC) etc whowere working for real Voluntary Blooddonation for years. All these peoples do-nated blood over 50 times in their life.I also understood the difference betweenreplacement and voluntary blood dona-tion and the real need of voluntaryblood donation (VBD). KEBS was initi-ated under the leadership of Late. Shri.M.K Joseph IPS, former DGP of kerala.

Current Scenario inTrivandrum.

Reports shows that about 25%of total blood requirements in keralaare at Trivandrum. This is because ofexistence of major hospitals likeRegional Cancer Center, Medical CollegeHospital, Sree Chitra Thirunal InstituteFor Medical Sciences, General Hospital,and many famous private hospitals inTrivandrum.

Sree Chitra Hospital Bloodbank is always ready to conductvoluntary donation camps at any placein Trivandrum. Minimum 6 Voluntarydonation camps per month are beingconducted by Sree Chitra and a lot ofregular voluntary donors are also thereand hence here patients and by-standersare less suffering for blood comparedto any other hospitals in Trivandrum.This is happening because of the verygood and positive approach of the BloodBank Officials and Staffs in Sree ChitraHospital.

In Medical College Hospital and otherGovt. Hospitals with the help of KSACS,HLL and TERUMO PENPOL Limited, thenumber of voluntary donations campsconducted had increased compared toprevious years. Dr.Usha Titus played agood role on that. But in all thesehospitals provision for conductingcamps should be increased. Always

bystanders have to run around forarranging blood. Recent days Denguefever affected persons got admitted inalmost all the hospitals in Trivandrum.Apart from the medicine, blood plateletwas the major requirement for thesepatients. Some cases up to 25 units ofplatelet were required for some denguepatients. Condition was almost like amajor calamity. Every day relativeshave to arrange 4-6 units of blood andpatients with rare group blood sufferlike anything.

The pathetic situation in RCC

Patients and by-standers in RCCare the most suffering people forarranging blood in the capital city. Inall other hospitals most of the cases onlyone time requirement of blood is thereexcept some rare cases like dialysis,dengue fever etc. But for cancer patientsblood is needed regularly for theirtreatment. Getting 3-4 pints blood dailyis not that much easy. Most of thepatients are from north Kerala and theydon’t have any known people ororganizations in Trivandrum. Bystanderswill be mentally and financiallysuffering because of the cancer diseaseof their relatives. In that condition ifhe/she is asked to arrange 3-4 units ofblood continuously, the situation is reallypathetic.

People with their small kids arereally suffering in RCC for arrangingblood. If the blood is a rare group, sit-uation will be worse. Everybody feel sadand disturbed if their children are notwell. Just imagine that a smart kid ofyour friend or relative is admitted inRCC. How much he /she might be wor-ried. In that situation if they are askedto arrange blood daily, really it will bepathetic situation. 10 months old De-vadarshan from Kannur, 2 year oldAnirudh, 2 year old Suraj from Alap-puzha, 22 year old Faisal from Moo-vatupuzha. Like that so many examples.Arranging blood should not be the re-sponsibility of the patient or the by-stander. Definitely it should be the re-sponsibility of the Society and Govern-ment. For that the only solution is con-ducting maximum number of VoluntaryBlood Donation Camps. RCC BloodBank Officials and Employees are real-ly hard working. In the present scenar-

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A Repeat Regular Donor and aA Repeat Regular Donor and aA Repeat Regular Donor and aA Repeat Regular Donor and aA Repeat Regular Donor and a

MotiMotiMotiMotiMotivvvvvatatatatator sharing his expor sharing his expor sharing his expor sharing his expor sharing his experienerienerienerienerienccccceeeee

7

io blood bank facility and manpoweris not at all sufficient in RCC. At presentprovision for one camp per month onlyis there. It should be really changed.Facilities and manpower should be en-hanced to conduct at least two campsper week. At present generally bleed-ing time is only up to1 p.m in RCC and holidays bleeding isnot at all possible. By increasing man-power and improving blood bank fa-cility we could help the suffering pa-tients and bystanders in RCC. It is hightime to think about a special team forconducting regular donation camps forRCC. Authorities should take immedi-ate action for this. Same time blooddonors and blood donation activistsshould think about regular voluntarydonation at RCC blood bank itself. Weshould not wait for the facility improve-ment. Higher-ups are not suffering. Poorpatients and their relatives are only suf-fering. As a solution if we can arrange

10-15 voluntary donors per day regu-larly at RCC Blood Bank that will be abig help to all. From each organiza-tion if we can send at least 1 or 2 do-nors daily, that itself will solve the prob-lem. College Students under the bannerof College Union, NSS or NCC, TradeUnions, Software Companies, Govern-ment Offices, Banks, Auto drivers, Busi-ness people under the banner of theirorganizations, Political youth organiza-tions, Religion organizations, Press andElectronic Media, Celebrities etc shouldcome forward and join in this missionfor helping poor and suffering peopleat RCC. Another option is College Stu-dents can think about RCC adoptingsystem. One college or two collegesjointly can offer volunteers for all needypatients for one week. Next week othercollege can do the same. About 100colleges are here in Trivandrum. If atleast 25 colleges are coming forwardon rotation basis college students can

arrange volunteers for blood donation.That will solve the total problem basedon blood requirement in RCC. We haveto do a lot for helping these sufferingpeople. Please come forward and dosomething to solve this issue.

Incentives

Government is spending hugeamount of money every year for thepromotion of voluntary blood donation.Along with that small non-financialincentives can also be introduced for thepromotion of Voluntary Blood Donationsuch as some grace marks for PSCExams and Interviews, PG Admissionand Civil Service Exams, somepreference for taking passport andlicense etc. Non-financial incentiveswould not attract high risk persons forthe blood donation. So the society hasto do a lot…

During the inaugural address on World AIDS Day, Mr. CBalagopal, Managing Director of TERUMO PENPOL stressedthe importance of Blood donation in saving a human life. Healso added that insecure practice of blood donation is themain cause to spread AIDS in our country.

One way to start a movement towards a safe blood transfusionservice is to encourage voluntary blood donation. If sufficientlylarge number of voluntary donors come forward, then, inaccordance with the laws of supply and demand, much ofthe current problems afflicting of blood services in India wouldhave been solved.

Adequate availability of blood from regular voluntary donorswould make it unnecessary for patients to have to run frompillar to post looking for donors. Second, the fact that theblood from repeat regular donors means that it is by andlarge safe, a fact that will merely be confirmed by the testing procedures. On the other hand, in the case of one time donors,one has to rely entirely on the test method, which carries an element of risk since there is no test procedure that has 100percentage sensitivity and specificity.

It will also create a large and growing body of voluntary donors who will help mobilize public opinion in favor of strongaction by Governments to ensure safe and assured supplies of blood components.

The members of Club 25 were present to hear the informative andin-depth speech on Preventing HIV AIDS and to promote safe blooddonation.

“Our state is the poorest among the others in the matter of blooddonation. Here, among the 32 million people, we could collectonly three lakh units of blood. That is not sufficient to meet theneed. Every day, each one of our employee will be present at theRegional Cancer Center to donate blood,” said C Balagopal.

In the state there are two kinds of demand for blood - that of acute(or) emergency demand and chronic demand. But the response toblood donation in the state is not satisfactory compared to otherstates in India. “There need to be a collective effort from the partof the authorities to initiate a momentum in voluntary blooddonation in the state,” he added.

SAFE BLOOD DONATION

C Balagopal, Managing Director, Terumo Penpol lights

the traditional lamp

Winners of Quiz Competition Organized By TERUMO PENPOL

Limited Receiving Prize On World Aids Day

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The Voluntary Blood Donation Journal - Editor : Baby P S, PRO, Terumo Penpol Limited, Sasthamangalam, Trivandrum. Tel: 3015602, Mob:9388022400.

Website: www.terumopenpol.com E-mail : baby@terumopenpol.com/ babyberly@gmail.com - Printed at St. Joseph’s Press, Trivandrum

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MINE, YOURS, HIS & HERS BLOOD

 WILL SAVEME, YOU, HIM & HER

************* WANT TO EXPERIENCE BEING LIKE A GOD?WILLFULLY GRANT LIFE, DONATE   BLOOD!

************** TWENTY-FOUR HOURS, WILL REPRODUCE ONE PINT,

THAT YOU DONATENUMBERS OF HOURS, CONSIDER ON OTHERS,

THAT ONE PINT, WILL GENERATE******

 ARE YOU, EQUATED TO GOD?DONATE BLOOD THEN EQUATE!

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Blood Donation SlogansBlood Donation SlogansBlood Donation SlogansBlood Donation SlogansBlood Donation SlogansLIKE OIL LIGHTS UP SO MANY HOUSES

BLOOD TOO LIGHTS UP SO MANY LIVES**********

OIL LIGHTS UP HOUSES BUT IT IS SCARCEBLOOD TOO LIGHTS UP LIVES, BUT LET IT NOT BE

RARE***********

 YOU DONATED BLOOD,YOUR BODY REPLENISHES IT IN ONE DAY.

YOUR DONATED BLOOD,REPLENISH ONES LIFE FOR INNUMERABLE DAYS.

 

 Contributed byWG CDR D SENDHIL KUMAR

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