METROPLUS - The Hindu (Kerala), 15 March 2004
Donating Life
The All Kerala Blood Donors' Society promotes voluntary blood donation in the State.
By ASHOK R CHANDRAN
THE STORY of the Association of Voluntary Blood Donors (AVBD)
is part of the health sector lore of India. In 1979, less than two per
cent of the blood required in the hospitals of West Bengal was met by
voluntary donors. Twenty years later, thanks to AVBD, the figure was 71
per cent.
A silent revolution of similar kind completed its first year
of service in Thiruvananthapuram this past week. Like West Bengal of
the 1970s, blood donation in Thiruvananthapuram today is largely by
replacement donors - people who are called in an emergency by a friend
or relative to replace the blood taken from the stock of the blood
bank.
Enter All Kerala Blood Donors' Society (KEBS), hoping to
repeat the Bengal magic. "We motivate people to donate blood regularly,
even when no emergency exists," says U. Suresh Kumar, organising
secretary of KEBS. "Voluntary donation ensures regular availability of
blood in the region and can do away with the need to run around for
replacement donors," points out Suresh.
"Voluntary donation can become a habit, just like brushing
your teeth," says Health Service official K. P. Rajagopalan. Motivating
oneself to visit the blood bank every third or sixth month sounds
impractical, until you meet Rajagopalan and Suresh. Whether or not
there is a medical crisis involving the near and dear, they have been
donating blood every six months, for the past 20 years.
KEBS is the brainchild of such spirited donors. "It is unique
as an umbrella organisation that networks various blood donor forums,"
says Dr. P. V. Sulochana, Blood Transfusion Officer, Sri Chithira
Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST).
During the past year, KEBS has conducted blood donation
camps, organised a poster competition, and popularised the concept of
blood donation in school assemblies. The National Cadet Corps, National
Service Scheme unit of S. N. College (at Chempazhanthy), Terumo Penpol
and other organisations are partners of KEBS.
Taking cue from the experiment in Vilappil panchayat, and
with the help of the Federation of Residents' Associations of
Thiruvananthapuram (FRAT), KEBS holds meetings with residents'
associations and encourages them to maintain lists of voluntary donors.
"Voluntary donation can become a habit, just like brushing your teeth," says Health Service official K. P. Rajagopalan.
This year, KEBS will promote blood donation in the police
force, which has a large number of fresh recruits. "The social service
angle will lend a positive image to policemen," says the former
Director-General of Police, M. K. Joseph. "It will also ensure
documentation of useful information," he says. As chairperson of KEBS,
when he recently suggested that systematic blood donation be revived in
the police force, the response from top officials was positive.
Why do people not donate blood? Many visiting the KEBS stall at this year's Flower Show said no one had asked them.
KEBS then asked people to come forward. Within days, 2,500
people had expressed willingness to donate blood, and now, KEBS has a
database of blood donors.
Changes in social attitudes have helped KEBS. "We were
touched by the response in some housing colonies such as M. P. Appan
Nagar," says M. K. Joseph. "Today, the need for blood, especially safe
blood, is greater than in the past. People are more aware of the
problem," he explains.
Still, when it comes to donating blood, some unfounded fears persist, says Dr. Sulochana.
And rising awareness is only half the story. "Blood banks can
help by giving special attention to voluntary donors," observes Suresh.
"At the Medical College, due to the rush, replacement and voluntary
donors are treated equally. KEBS can recruit donors, but in retaining
them, blood banks also have a role," he says. KEBS plans to work with
Hospital Development Societies to set up assistance booths for
voluntary donors.
The magnitude of the challenge is striking. "We require at
least 100 donors per day," says Dr. Geetha V. of the blood bank at
Medical College Hospital.
SCTIMST requires 30 donors per day. Other Government
hospitals are also on the KEBS radar. To donate `safe' blood, you must
be in the age group of 18 to 60, and modern lifestyle should not have
marked its presence on your platelets.
People like Rajagopalan and Suresh will have to `retire'
soon. But by building KEBS and popularising voluntary donation, they
hope to keep safe blood flowing into the blood banks of
Thiruvananthapuram.
RELATED LINKS
KEBS website
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