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Students from Mount Olive College donating blood on World Blood Donor Day at Mount Olive College, Kohima on June 14.[/caption]
Dimapur, June 14 (EMN): The Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) celebrated World Blood Donor Day in collaboration with Red Ribbon Club and Mount Olive College, Kohima on Friday. The programme was held at Mount Olive College, Kohima under the theme “Safe Blood for All.”
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated across the globe on June 14 every year, commemorating the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner. It is to raise awareness on the need for safe blood and blood products, and to thank blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving gifts of blood.
Speaking on the importance of blood donation, Medical Officer Blood Bank, Dr. Avila Sangtam, stated that one should not look at only one side of giving blood to a patient but also know the safety of the donor, informed an update from DIPR. She informed that a person cannot donate blood on three cases:
- Temporary deferral- where a donor will not be able to donate for a certain amount of time. For instance, women’s menstrual cycle period, breastfeeding, under medication, T.B, and typhoid.
- Permanent deferral- where donor will not be able to donate for a lifetime. Example: cancer, AIDs, heart disease, diabetes, mental illness, hepatitis-B
- Self deferral- where donor is aware of the situation and will not be able to donate. For instance, the donor is aware of the sickness and deferred from donating.
Sangtam also added that it is mandatory to screen five diseases - HIV 1 and 2, Hepatitis -B, Hepatitis-C, Syphillis and Malaria – in India before donating blood. She said those who suspect such diseases should not donate.
Pointing out certain criteria for donating blood, she informed that the donor should be aged between 18 and 60, weighs 45kg or more, pulse should be 60 to 100 beats per minute, and haemoglobin should be minimum 12.5gm/dl. She further informed that “donor counselling” and screening through questionnaire before donation is an important process as it ensures blood safety and “regular voluntary non-remunerated donor.”
Teacher in-charge, Baptist High, Seketouzo Haralu said at the event that donating blood and saving a person’s life gives happiness to a donor. He mentioned that “donating blood to somebody is similar to the way one contributes tithes to God” and urged young people to “come forward and save lives and be blessed.”
Haralu informed that too much iron in the “blood can cause diseases, and every time one donates blood, the blood is regenerated.”
He was also presented with a memento by NHAK for donating blood for more than 30 times.
A total of 28 donors, including teachers, VBDAK members and students donated blood to mark the World Blood Donor Day.
The District AIDS Prevention Control Unit (DAPCU) Peren in collaboration with the Red Ribbon Club (RRC), St. Xavier’s College, Jalukie, organised World Blood Donor Day celebration with the theme “Safe Blood for all” at St. Xavier’s College, Jalukie town on June 14.
Dr. Supongmenla Walling, DTO RNTCP, encouraged the students to donate blood and acknowledged the donors for coming forward to save lives, informed an update from the office of Chief Medical Officer, Peren.
Rev. Father Francis S Cheerangal, Principal of St. Xavier’s College stated that “parents gave life to us, so we can save a life by donating blood to those in need.”
Nguazeulungbe, President, Voluntary Blood Donors Association Peren, shared his experience saying: “The first step is the hardest but once you take the decision and donate blood it becomes easier. It also gives one the sense of responsibility and proud feeling for the contribution in saving a life.”