A Blood Donation Camp was organised by Strategic Institute for Public Health Education and Research (SIPHER) to provide blood to Thalassaemic patients in collaboration with Blood Bank Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, Thalassaemic Charitable Trust, Chandigarh, Chandigarh University, Dr. Ashok Sharma’s Cornea Centre and Smile Forever organisation.
Chandigarh, 19 December
Dr. Rakesh Gupta President SIPHER said that It was organised in memory of Sh. Raj Kumar Gupta, who was Director of Bharat Vikas Parishad Charitable Lab, Chandigarh, a call for volunteers to donate blood and pledge for eye donation was published through Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp and in response about 70 volunteers came and after preliminary screenings 55 medically fit volunteers donated the blood and pledged for eye donation, out of these 25 Students from Chandigarh University volunteered to donate blood. He further informed that a person who has thalassemia makes fewer healthy red blood cells. Their red blood cells do not produce enough hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen throughout the body. People with severe thalassemia can have various medical complications. They might also require lifelong blood transfusions for treatment so all must come forward to donate blood for them.
Dr. Rajan Sharma from Dr. Ashok Sharma’s Cornea Centre Chandigarh motivated blood donors to pledge for eye donation.
Inaugurating the camp formally, Dr. Ravikesh Srivastva Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Chandigarh University told the participants that, Blood donation at the right time can save millions of lives all over the world every year and should be made a regular ritual and awareness must be created about it.
Prof. Sonu Goel from PGIMeR Chandigarh informed that the Blood Bank of PGI Chandigarh is one of the most advanced blood banks anywhere in the world and screens each and every unit of blood received for the safety of the recipients.
Mr. Arun Verma, Director Operations of SIPHER briefed that in India most blood donors are unpaid volunteers who donate blood for a community supply. Many donors donate for several reasons, such as a form of charity, general awareness regarding the demand for blood, increased confidence in oneself, helping a personal friend or relative, and social pressure.
Mr. Rajinder Kalra from Thalassaemic Charitable Trust said that their trust is providing regular blood transfusion to 500 plus Thalassaemic children regularly for more than 30 years. Mr. Ajay Gupta from Smile foundation actively participated in the blood donation camp and has organized more than fifty such camps.
