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Donate blood - save a life

Voluntary blood donation is the heart and life of an efficient blood transfusion service

STAR CAMPAIGN Priety Zinta voicing for voluntary donation

A couple of months ago an engineering student of Gayatri Vidya Parishad was suddenly admitted to a hospital with high fever and reddish spots all over his body. The diagnosis proved that he was affected with the deadly dengue fever with a low platelet count. He needed 22 platelet transfusion which was a pretty high requirement. But he had a miraculous recovery. How could this happen? All his classmates one day trooped into the A.S. Raja Voluntary Blood Bank (ASRVBB) and donated blood.

The platelet concentrates could be prepared within four hours with the help of sophisticated T-Ace equipment at the blood bank and was infused in time to save the budding engineer. "Human blood cannot be manufactured yet and hence voluntary donation is the heart and life of an efficient blood transfusion service. October 1 is All India Voluntary Blood Donation Day and it is the social responsibility of all to donate blood once in a while as it can save one's life during emergency," says A. Sugandhi, medical director of ASRVBB.

Myth

In India the voluntary blood donation is covered with many myths like fear of needle, pain, family objections and weakness following donation. Dr. Sugandhi informs that the whole process is painless and takes around 20 minutes. "The best way to remove the myths is by talking to a donor or the blood bank staff.

The blood donated is replenished in a couple of hours by the natural biological process. The median age of India is 24.9 compared to 36.5 in the US. This means that India has got more number of eligible and young voluntary donors. Yet US achieved 100 per cent voluntary donation years ago," she points out.

The pre and the post donation procedure in all the blood banks in the city like ASRVBB, Rotary, Red Cross and the Government are safe and fool proof. The donor undergoes a mandatory medical examination pre donation and post donation and the blood is screened for viral diseases like Hepatitis B and C, HIV, malaria, microfilaria and VDRL. "Component separation ensures the optimum use of blood, as only the required component needs to be given without overloading the patient with the whole blood.

With component separation one unit of blood can save up to four lives," says Vidya Viswanath of ASRVBB.

So roll up your sleeves and save a life by becoming a regular blood donor.

S.B.

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