Gift of Blood is Gift of Life! With Motto ‘Save Life-Give Blood’ Nearly 150 People Gave Blood at Infant Jesus Shrine, Carmel Hill, Bikkarnakatte-Mangaluru on Thursday, 9 January 2020
Mangaluru: ” Gift of Blood is Gift of Life! Blood is a lifeline and its value is only recognized when we are in need of it to save the lives of our near and dear ones. Do you feel you don’t have much to offer? You have the most precious resource of all: the ability to save a life by donating blood! Help share this invaluable gift with someone in need. If you’re a blood donor, you’re a hero to someone, somewhere, who received your gracious gift of life. The finest gesture one can make is to save a life by donating Blood. The blood donor of today may be the recipient of tomorrow”
As part of the Annual Feast of Infant Jesus Shrine, Carmel Hill, Bikkarnakatte-Mangaluru, the Carmelite Fathers of St Joseph’s Monastery here organized a Blood Donation Camp in association with Blood Bank of Father Muller Charitable Institutions, Mangaluru on Thursday, 9 January 2020 from 9 am-2 pm. We should all know that “Blood” is an important resource, both for planned treatments and urgent interventions. It can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with a higher quality of life, and supports complex medical and surgical procedures. Blood is also vital for treating the wounded during emergencies of all kinds (natural disasters, accidents, armed conflicts, etc.) and has an essential, life-saving role in maternal and perinatal care.
The Blood Bank Team of Father Muller Hospital: Dr Charu Khosla (Head of Blood Bank); Technical Heads – Ms Olivia D çunha, Ms Laxmi C; PG Students – Dr Vineetha Augustine, Dr Stephanie Noronha; M Sc Students – Saraswathi, Pavithra D L, and Divya K G; Technical Staff- Ms Lavita Divya D’Souza, Ms Lavita Lopez, Ms Nabeesath Misiriya; Staff Nurse- Ms Jyothi; Social Worker- Rajesh Joyal Saldanha
When we donate blood, one may ask-Where would our blood be going? Who would be helped by it? The answer is simple, Your blood could save the life of a mother? A father? A son or daughter? A baby? An adult? A person battling cancer, sickle cell disease or maybe a person involved in a vehicle accident? Blood donation is a simple, four-step process: registration, medical history and mini-physical, donation and refreshments. It is a safe process, and a sterile needle is used only once for each donor and then discarded.
Why Donate Blood? You don’t need a special reason to give blood; you just need your own reason. Some of us give blood because we were asked by a friend. Some know that a family member or a friend might need blood some day. Some believe it is the right thing we do. The number one reason donors say they give blood is that they “want to help others.” Whatever your reason, the need is constant and your contribution is important for healthy and reliable blood supply. And you’ll feel good knowing you’ve helped change a life.
Sources reveal that the actual blood donation typically takes less than 10-15 minutes. The entire process, from the time you arrive to the time you leave, takes less than an hour. Five-10 minutes of one blood donor’s time + 350 ml. of blood = One life saved! So when you give blood you are giving someone another chance at life. One day that someone may be your close relative, a friend, a loved one—or even one of YOU. By donation of blood means a few minutes to YOU, but a lifetime for somebody else. Isn’t it so simple!
Speaking to Team Mangalorean Dr Charu Khosla- Head of Blood Bank at Father Muller Hospital said, “Blood Donation is a very noble and precious gesture. Human blood is irreplaceable and it is the most precious gift a person can give to the other person. One unit of blood that is donated can actually save four lives, not one because blood is separated into components. Blood can be very useful in emergency situations, road-traffic accidents and diseases for which they are transfusion dependent. Your gesture of blood donation can save some one’s life. So people should come forward and donate blood willingly”.
The Blood Donation Camp was launched with a formal function in the morning, graced by Fr Wilfred Rodrigues OCD- Superior of St Joseph’s Monastery-Carmel Hill, Sr Joylene of an NGO in Vamanjoor, Dr Charu Khosla- Head of Blood Bank FMCI, and Fr Prakash D’cunha- Director of Infant Jesus Shrine. Blood Donor Ms Oshin Sequeira, a student speaking to Team Mangalorean said, “This is my second time giving blood at Infant Jesus Shrine because I feel that someone may need my blood in order to save his/her life. Many people in time of emergency who are in need of particular blood die since there is a shortage of blood. I urge everyone if you are capable of giving blood, do it right now, because someone out there is needing your blood very urgently”.
Mabin Benny, a lecturer by profession said, “For the second time I am donating blood here, which could be of use to some person desperately needing blood. There are cases of patients dying since their blood type/group is not available. I donate blood because it’s something I can do. It takes very little time, it helps people who really need it, and I always feel better after I’ve done it. Another reason I donate blood is simply that I’m eligible. You probably are, too. We could eliminate shortages if people come forward to donate blood. It comes down to this: sick and injured people need donated blood. There’s no substitute for it. So be a generous Blood Donor, when you are eligible to give now”
In conclusion, A life may depend on a gesture from you, a bottle of Blood. To give blood you need neither extra strength nor extra food, and you will save a life. Blood Donation will cost you nothing but it will save a life! Tears of a mother cannot save her Child. But your Blood can. To the young and healthy it’s no loss. To the sick, it’s the hope of life. Donate Blood to give back life. Blood is meant to circulate. Pass it around. Share a little, care a little – Donate Blood. So why not come forward and donate blood and save a life or lives! Team Mangalorean makes a humble request to our readers on behalf of Father Muller Hospital to come in large numbers and help a good cause by donating blood to their Blood Bank.