Bengaluru: Even when the State was hit by the second wave of the pandemic, people were kind enough to donate blood and save lives at various blood donation camps. The Lions Club of Bengaluru, Sanjaynagar, Dist 317F has been holding camps across Bengaluru to assist those in need of blood.
The organisation has been holding 125 to 150 camps in a year collecting around 9000 to 9500 units in Bengaluru. Alphonse Kurian said that, “We have created a data base of the donors called Lions Blood Line. So, this is more of a dedicated donor database, who keep donating regularly. Even pre-Covid, we used to have around 5 to 6 donors per day through camp. I was amazed to see that even during Covid, except for that initial lockdown period, we continued to maintain 4 to 5 donations per day abiding by all the Covid – 19 guidelines.”
“It is inspiring to see donors going to hospital even late night whenever there is a requirement. We never know what will happen to a patient but the end of the day we try and make blood available for them,” he added. He also mentioned that he has met people who have donated more than 100 and 200 units of blood, which he believes sends a powerful message to people about how they may save someone’s life by donating blood.
Alphonse further said that when there is a need for blood, they give the contact of blood bank staff where people can directly check in with them. He also stressed the fear of people to donate blood has to change. “People will realise the value of it once they are in need of blood,” he said.
One among the blood donor was Prakash V. S. who is working from home in Mangaluru, made his 12th blood donation at Blood Donation Camp at Mundanje, Belthangady Taluk on October 24.
