MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2024
Joaquim Fernandes
More citizens in Goa should volunteer to donate blood and
help save precious lives. This is the hope of doctors at the Blood Bank, Goa
Medical College and Hospital as the nation observes National Voluntary Blood
Donors’ Day today, October 1.
“The gift of blood is an invaluable gift one can give to any
person as it helps to save life,” Says Dr M V Mallya, in-charge of the GMC’s
Blood Bank. The message outside his office wall is pithy: “Tears of a mother
cannot save her child. But your blood can.” Interestingly, the fact is that one
donation can save, not just one, but three lives. The emphasis is on
‘voluntary’ blood donors - people who donate blood on their own free will
without any compulsion.
“It is difficult to get voluntary blood donors during lean
periods; we have to then fall back on ‘replacement’ blood donors,” says Dr
Sangeeta Amoncar, MD Pathology - GMC. Replacement donors are those who donate
blood to replace the blood transfused into their sick relative/friend.
“We face problems of blood shortage in lean periods
especially festive seasons like Ganesh Chaturthi, Christmas, Diwali and college
vacations, when everyone is holidaying” says Dr Sangeeta.
The annual requirement of blood at the GMC Blood Bank is
about 20,000 units. In the last five years, the Blood Bank’s collection is in
the range of 18,000 units of blood per year. The demand for blood is expected
to rise in coming years; hence the need for more Voluntary blood donors. Every
year during monsoon, the Blood Bank faces shortage of platelets due to the high
number of dengue cases,” says Dr Merline Augustine, assistant lecturer, Blood
Bank, GMC.
The Blood Bank ensures that no patient loses life for want
of blood, even in emergencies where victims of motor vehicle accidents are
involved. “Gynaec patients in labour sometimes have bleeding complications
post-delivery and sometimes require high volumes of blood transfusions,” says
Dr Merline.
In 2023 (January to August), a total of 13,848 persons
donated blood. Of these, 9804 were voluntary blood donors at blood donation
camps conducted across Goa. The remaining 4044 were replacement blood donors.
The number of registered voluntary blood donors with the GMC Blood Bank is
quite low – just 1365.
Donating blood is simple. Males can donate blood every three
months and females every four months. Strict checks are carried out to ensure
that donors are not subject to any risk. The Blood Bank conducts health
check-ups on donors to ensure he/she is fit to donate blood. “There is no
danger to the donors’ health whatsoever,” said Dr Sangeeta.
During the Covid crisis, the GMC Blood Bank saw quite a
surge in voluntary blood and plasma donations, especially from youngsters. In
those dark Covid days, when plasma therapy was used heavily, the dire need for
blood was met by a group of young people who donated blood repeatedly. “They
became like Blood Bank family,” says Dr Sangeeta.
Altruism – to help others – was their only motivation. One
of them is Pranav Parrikar, 26-year-old civil engineer from Mapusa. Pranav has
been donating blood since he turned 18. He went the extra mile during Covid
days, mobilizing friends to donate blood. “You save lives by donating blood at
no cost to yourself. Blood donation is very common in countries like Singapore,
New Zealand and Australia. I think it is our basic duty; everyone should do it.
We need no applause for this,” says Pranav.
College student Faizan Saifee (21) from Bicholim, and
Homeopath Dr Yogesh Desai (39), from Khorlim, also turned regular blood donors
after turning 18 - only “to help others” in need. While Faizan does social work
through an NGO, Dr Yogesh helps arrange blood donation camps regularly through
the Primary Health Centre, Khorlim.
Panjim-based engineer Devansh Cholera (27), and Bicholim
fashion designer Shanaida Matias donate blood because their blood group is
quite rate. “To help someone you don’t even know, is a great feeling,” said
Shanaida. Majorda-resident and GMC Blood Bank technician Piedade Fernandes
learnt the importance of donating blood, first as a student and later, during
her father’s open-heart surgery.
Some major donors to the blood bank include pharma
companies, telecom companies, units of the Army like 5TTR, 6TTR, 3MTR, Naval
units like INHS Jeevanthi, Vasco and INS Mandovi, Verem, Coast Guard and
BITS Pilani.
“On request, they arrange blood donation camps, sometimes
even 3 or 4 times a year. They have never showed reluctance and it helps us
greatly in lean periods,” says Dr Sangeeta. Other regular donors include Rotary
Club and Lions Club, Sarthak Foundation, Caring Souls, Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari
Trust and businessman Gaurish Dhond.
October 1 was declared as National Voluntary Blood Donation
Day by its founder President, Prof JG Jolly of Indian Society of Blood
Transfusion and Immunohaematology, to share the need and importance of blood in
the life of an individual.
“The GMC Blood Bank is fairly well equipped and comparable
to any of the best blood banks in the country. GMC Dean Dr S M Bandekar always
supports implementation of newer advances in Blood Bank in terms of equipment,
manpower and technology,”
Dr Mallya said.
Goa has two more government-run blood banks, one each at the
Asilo hospital (Mapusa) and the Hospicio (Margao) where citizens can go and -
as the Blood Bank booklet says – Donate Blood, Save Many Lives (Not Just One).
