Banda DAPCU, U.P On Blood Donation

Significance of Voluntary blood donation -

Safe blood saves lives - but, for too many patients around the world whose survival depends on blood transfusion, blood transfusion is either not available or not safe. Every second of every day, people around the world - of all ages and from all walks of life - need blood transfusions to survive. Safe blood is blood that does not contain any viruses, parasites, drugs, alcohol, chemical substances, or other extraneous factors that might cause harm, danger or disease to the recipient.

Voluntary Blood Donors are considered as the safest source of blood as they have low prevalence of TTIs (Transfusion Transmissible Infections) like HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Malaria and Syphilis while the family/replacement donors carry higher prevalence of TTIs.

In spite of the rapid and remarkable advancements in medical science today, no factory can manufacture blood. It is only in human beings that human blood is made and circulated. Hence, donation - rather voluntary donation is the only way of accumulating blood at safe storage to meet emergency requirements for saving lives.

This is the greatest gift one can do for the mankind. Voluntary Blood Donors are saviors of mankind. If someone really loves oneself and other fellow beings, the only way to express it is to donate blood voluntarily. Donating blood means giving life to someone and it is believed that voluntary blood donors command the highest respect for their sacrifice.

DAPCUs can play a Pivot Role to Promote Voluntary Blood Donation-
Dapcu can promote voluntary blood donation through the main components of the Donor Recruitment Program are (i) to create awareness among students/youths regarding blood donation, (ii) to sensitize principals and teachers of colleges/educational institutes/local clubs/NGOs regarding voluntary blood donation, (iii) to motivate the students/youths for blood donation, (iv) to form a network of peer motivators from various colleges/educational institutes/local clubs/NGOs, (v) to try and evaluate the effectiveness of various strategies for donor motivation. We can train some good area wise voluntary motivators to motivate regarding Unawareness/ignorance of the general public about voluntary blood donation and to some extent their fear and misconceptions regarding blood donation. Again the Blood Transfusion Services in the By motivating the young people and other potential donors to donate blood voluntarily on regular basis we will be achieving

• a safe and sustainable supply of blood and blood products

• HIV & other TTI free young population This message has to be conveyed to a large number of people so that voluntary blood donation could become a mass movement. People must understand the importance of voluntary blood donation and come forward voluntarily to donate blood. 

The main focus areas of VBD,Program may be

• Healthy individuals to become regular voluntary blood donors
• Existing voluntary blood donors to continue to donate regularly
• Converting family replacement donors to voluntary blood donors by strengthening the blood donor education.

How did you observe this day at the district level? What was unique about your programme?

Blood Donation Camps at different places

IEC Distribution

• Banner Displayed at District Level.
• Banner Displayed at Block Level
• Pamphlets Distribution – At every CHC/PHCs/Schools/Colleges/, and at Blood Donation Spot.
• Pamphlets Distribution – At every CHC/PHCs/Schools/Colleges/, and at Blood Donation Spot.
• Sanghosthi and awareness program done at V.B.D. Camps with different Colleges/Departments/NGOs/Schools etc. 

Unique about our V.B.D. Programe

To Promote Blood donation, we organized Press conference with media to remove misconception about blood donation in people. CMO/DTO/CMS/Blood Bank In charge/MOs of District Hospital participated in this conference and deliver facts through media about blood donation. An appeals issue for blood donation in above V.B.D. camps. DPM Dapcu Co-ordinate with UPSAC for arrange a unit blood at Lucknow for a needy from Banda. This inspired to that person regarding Blood donation and assure to assist in blood donation programs organized in future.

Few challenges we faced getting voluntary donors and we overcome it-

• It was too difficult to get voluntary blood donation from remote areas of District-Banda especially in Bundelkhand region but DAPCU perform this task with their best efforts. Here we are pointing some challenges we faced getting voluntary donors.
• Due to misconception related blood donation even younger also fear to donate blood. To remove the widespread misconception we organized seminars collaboration with Doctors at school/colleges’ RRCs level attempt to remove misconceptions.
• We promote blood donation and encourage blood donor but when needy person need blood they don’t get. So the donor discouraged toward blood donation. Dapcu encouraged to blood donor and describe them about procedure of getting blood.
• In remote areas it is too difficult to get blood donation due misconception of regarding blood donation Dapcu organized sanghosthi and awareness camp to promote blood donation.
• DPM DAPCU visited with different unions/organization/religious/Socials institutions to promote blood donation like, trade union, Red cross, Sant Nirankari Mission, Gayatri Pariwaar etc.
• We promote to make a voluntary group of students regarding blood donation and aware at remote areas.