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Thursday, May 15, 2008
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Online edition of India's National Newspaper Thursday, May 15, 2008 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
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Tamil Nadu
DEDICATED DUO: E.N. Sreeram (left) and S. Kowshik, who run the ‘anytime blood donation’ movement in Coimbatore. COIMBATORE: Both are not popular figures in the city. But, their calls draw donors to any hospital to provide blood for accident victims or those undergoing emergency surgeries. S. Kowshik, 24, a nurse at Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, and E.N. Sreeram, 31, who runs textile machinery spares business, have introduced the concept of ‘anytime blood donation.’ Just as they speak to this correspondent, a woman calls up Mr. Kowshik to request for blood. She is to undergo hysterectomy. The two, who run Any Time Blood Donors’ Association, immediately go through a database of the donors and their blood group and phone numbers they have loaded in their mobile phones. “We have the details of 8,000 donors,” says Mr. Kowshik. “Each can donate one unit every three months. So, we call only those who have completed three months since the last donation.” Asked how they mobilised 8,000 donors, Mr. Sreeram says: “Our names and phone numbers are displayed in all the hospitals in the city. They are also available in all shops outside every hospital. Relatives of patients and others who go to the tea stalls near the hospitals make a note and respond to our call for blood.” The association does not run a blood bank. After obtaining the phones numbers of Mr. Kowshik and Mr. Sreeram, patients or their relatives call them up for a particular group of blood and inform them about the date and time of surgery. The two then go through the donors’ list and alert the right donor. Mr. Kowshik says it all began when he donated blood, for the first time, in 2004. Mr. Sreeram, whom Mr. Kowshik had never met till then, also came to Sri Ramakrishna Hospital to donate blood. On seeing the struggle to mobilise donors, the two joined hands to begin a movement for blood donation. Initially, they gave their names and phone numbers only to the Institute of Oncology and Research at the hospital. Later, these were given to the entire hospital and then to all hospitals across the city. Now, they have area-wise lists of donors. A separate list of emergency donors is also maintained. “First, we call up donors living close to the hospital where the blood is required,” says Mr. Sreeram. “We have arranged for 25,000 donations, over two years, in more than five hospitals.” Cells in collegesThe association has also formed Anytime Blood Donors Cells in colleges. “We have formed these cells with two students. A call to them helps mobilise donors from the institutions,” says Mr. Kowshik. Director of the Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Oncology and Research P. Guhan says: “This is an example of how individuals can run a public service movement with commitment. Software firms can help them establish a comprehensive database of donors.” Mr. Kowshik can be contacted on 98943-95495 and Mr. Sreeram on 98431-93014.
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