A precious donation

IT WAS a show of student power when the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS), along with the Chennai Corporation and the University of Madras National Service Scheme, organised a mega blood donation camp on World Blood Donation Day.

As the posters outside the camp pointed out, they had gathered to ``serve their country for donating blood and not shedding it''.

Mr. Christodas Gandhi, Director, TANSACS, gave the credit to students who were volunteering to donate blood and the TANSACS had a programme to fund universities by giving Rs. 10 lakhs to set up blood donor clubs. The purpose was to show that there were a number of voluntary donors and also to break the myth that only relatives and friends were willing to donate blood for those in need.

Mr. Gandhi said out of the three lakh units of blood collected in the State per year, only 50 per cent was from voluntary non- remunerative donors.

At today's camp, over 75 engineering, arts and science and medical colleges and polytechnics participated. While a total number of 4,000 donors were expected, by 10.30 a.m. over 1,200 had already registered. With 250 beds, 77 doctors and medical officers, 85 technicians, 79 nurses and 82 assistants, including multi-purpose health workers, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was abuzz with activity.

Light music programmes highlighting the need for blood donation were organised to entertain students waiting to give blood and those having their post-donation refreshments.

Dr. B. Chandramohan, Project Director, Chennai Corporation AIDS Prevention Control Society, said this would not be a one-time exercise alone but donors would be given forms which would be filled and handed over to blood banks. He said Chennai received 1.20 lakh units per year of which 65 per cent was voluntary. This initiative is aimed to increase the voluntary donation to 75 per cent this year with an ultimate goal to make it 100 per cent from donors.

For Mr. Nanda Kishore, Mr. R. Muthukrishnan, and Mr. Lena Kathiravan or for Dental college student Ms. Nandini, donating 350 ml blood has been a ``first'' but a happy experience.

By Akila Dinakar

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