Udupi: The district unit of Mogaveera Yuva Sanghatane in association with G Shankar Family Trust and Manipal University organized a programme to announce Udupi as the ‘Blood donors’ district and to distribute Arogya Suraksha Cards, at Shamili auditorium here on Saturday, September 19.
The programme began with an invocation by Vijay Suvarna Malpe. Sadananda Balkur, president of district unit of Mogaveera Yuva Sanghatane, welcomed the gathering.
Dr G Shanker, president of Shamili Trust, in his keynote address said that G Shanker Family Trust has given priority to the Health and Education sector. Through Manipal Hospital, G Shanker Family Trust has given Arogya Suraksha cards to a number of families. 2500 health cards were gien in the year 2008-09, 4000 cards in 2009-10, 7500 cards in 2010-11, 10000 cards in 2011-12, 15000 cards in 2012-13, 20000 cards in 2013-14 and 25000 cards in 2014-15. This year the trust is distributing health cards to 25000 families (7000 Mogaveer, 6800 Billava, 2500 Bunts, 950 SC/ST, 1000 Vishwakarma, 1300 Shettigar, 1000 Muslim, 520 Christian, 500 Marati, 600 Brahmins and 2880 others).
Udupi district has gained the number one spot in the state in voluntary blood donation. The Mogaveera Yuva Sanghatane collected a total of 60000 units of blood and it has given these to various blood banks. 1200 unit were collected in the year 2008-09, 2000 units in 2009-10, 2588 units in 2010-11, 6640 units in 2011-12, 15186 units in 2012-13, 10120 units in 2013-14 and 15600 units in 2014-15. This year the association has already collected 2787 units of blood in 16 camps. The association has also organised camps in Mangaluru, Shivamogga, Bengaluru and collected 5420 units of blood and distributed to various blood banks, he said.
Vinay Kumar Sorake, district minister in-charge and state Urban Development minister, inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp and symbolically distributed the health cards to the beneficiaries. In his message, Vinay Kumar Sorake lauded the charitable activities of the G Shanker Family Trust and Mogaveera Yuva Sanghatane.
State Health and Family Welfare minister, U T Khader officially announced Udupi as the Blood Donors’ district by handing over the government order to Mogaveera Yuva Sanghatane.
In his message, Khader said that though science and technology have developed to a great extent, no person has succeeded in finding an alternative or a substitute for blood. Hence, blood is very precious. Blood donated by a person would go a long way in saving the lives of many people. He praised Mogaveera Yuva Sanghatane for taking the effort to announce Udupi as blood donors’ district. Khader also advised the beneficiaries to make the maximum use of the card to ensure good health.
He also said that the state government had chalked out several plans to improve healthcare in the state. To reduce maternal and infant mortality rates, the state government will launch a mother-child tracking system “Vatsalya Vani” on September 21. The government aims to monitor and give health advice to women during pregnancy and for neonatal care after delivery as well. Women who have registered themselves for “Thayi card” in government hospitals would be able to avail this service.
The service covered under Vatsalya Vani includes monitoring the health of pregnant women, providing information of various health programmes, tracking high-risk pregnancies, low-weight babies, advising mothers on family planning, arranging for nearest delivery points through state ambulances, eliminating home deliveries and tracking a newborn’s immunisation process.
The service would be facilitated through a three-way conference call wherein the Vatsalya Vani advisor would interact with the pregnant woman or the mother in the presence of ANMs and Asha workers.
Once a woman is registered for this service, after conceiving, the expected date of delivery would be calculated and tentative dates for availing the medical services will be generated. Based on this, alerts will be sent to the health personnel concerned and to the pregnant woman. Also, after the delivery, dates for immunization will be sent to track the baby’s health.
Udupi MLA Pramod Madhwaraj presided over the function. Byndoor MLA Gopal Poojary, ZP president Savitha Shivanand Kotian, CMC President Yuvraj, Manipal University Registrar G K Prabhu, DK Mogaveera Mahajana Sangha president Keshav Kundar, Entrepreneur Anand C Kundar, DK and Udupi distirct Fish sellers Federation president Yaspal Suvarna, Mogaveera Mahajana Seva Sangha Bagwadi president M M Suvarna, Vishwanatha Masthar were present.