(Courtesy: The Shardans newspaper published by the Department of Mass Communication, Sharda University)
By Pratik Rimal
GREATER NOIDA: Sharda Hospital’s Blood Bank organized a blood donation campaign on Aug. 27. It saw an impressive number of volunteers coming forward for the noble cause.
The campaign, which was supported by Manavta Cancer Foundation, carried the slogan, “You do not need to be a doctor to save lives. Donate blood.” Around 350 national and international students of Sharda University turned up. However, only 85 donations were accepted as per requirements.
“We have registered the names of willing donors and we will call them when required,” Rahul Singh, president of Manavta, said, adding that this was “one of the most successful blood donation camps in the university so far”.
The foundation is an NGO and a part of Manavta Trust which works mainly in dental and medical hospitals in Delhi NCR and neighboring states.
Dr. Seema Dua, in charge of Sharda’s Blood Bank, said such camps are organized from time to time. Various student groups lend their support for the cause. This time it was Manavta which mobilized students throughout the campus.
According to Dr. Nazrul Islam, supervisor of Sharda Hospital, another camp will be organized in the next 15 to 20 days.
Donors who got tattoos during the last six months and those having a history of jaundice and tuberculosis were not allowed to donate blood.
The donation also ensured that it met with international criteria.
According to the American Red Cross, a donor should not be less than 17 years old and weigh a minimum of 50 kg.
Similarly, anybody who donated blood in the past three months is also not considered.
As part of its gratitude and encouragement towards the donors, Manavta issued a blood donor card. Prof. Vijay Gupta, the Vice Chancellor, has promised to give attendance of a class/period to students who show their donor card.
Rahul Singh also spoke of e-blood, a concept which provides free ‘blood insurance’ to the donors. Under this scheme, a donor is issued a card which will allow him to seek blood for his or her family and friends for the next three years.
“I am donating blood, and I will donate again,” a student pursuing BJMC said. “I appreciate donors as they are life savers,” he added. The WHO states that while India needs about 8.5 million unit of blood annually, the collection, however, tends to be below five million units.
