CAMPUS NOTES
An American psychologist and philoso
pher, William James (1842 -1910) once rightfully said, “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does”.
True indeed, James’s statement managed to raise a thought in the minds of the present generation who relentlessly try to make a difference in every small way possible through various activities pertaining to a healthy society and the most popular among them which is equally beneficial is the regular ‘Blood Donation Drives’.
Coming close, such drives are becoming popular day by day in Shillong city and its suburbs wherein it is noticed that youth from all sections of the society would come out, shedding off their fears, their selfish attitudes, narrow-mindedness and selflessly donate their blood for the needy.
It may be mentioned that June 14, 2012 marked a red letter day, when the world came together to celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) as an occasion to honour those who donate the life saving gift-blood and to raise awareness on the universal need for safest possible blood and blood products that best come from voluntary blood donors around the world.
This year’s theme for World Blood Donor Day campaign ‘Every blood donor is a hero’ is a salute to everyone who donates blood thereby saving lives of many. Such donation drives also serve to encourage more and more people from all parts of the world to make it a regular habit to donate blood voluntarily without seeking monetary benefits in return.
Realizing the importance of blood donation and the need to spread mass awareness, various organizations, self help groups, political parties, and educational institutions besides others have regularly organized blood donation camps in various areas of the city.
This brief report presents a glimpse of the blood donation camps conducted by the NSS Unit of St Anthony’s College during the year 2012. The camp kicked off with a Poster Competition on September 10 on the Theme: ‘Voluntary Blood Donation’ which witnessed a large participation of students who came forward very enthusiastically. This event also provided the students with a platform which gave them an opportunity to showcase their artistic and creative skills.
On completion, the different Posters were displayed on the College Main lobby to serve as a much needed source of Publicity for the upcoming Blood Donation Camp which was held on September 12.
On the said date, the NSS Unit of the College organized a Blood Donation Camp at the College Edu-Sat Centre.
In all, around 85 donors registered themselves, of which 52 were accepted for donation, 10 were rejected due to medical reasons. There were 23 surplus donors. Overall, the camp was a great success.
Talking to this scribe, programme officer of the NSS unit of St Anthony’s College Dr RS Wankhar said that the blood donation drives are being organized by the college every year while stating that these drives are a way of making the students aware of the importance and the significance of a blood donation.
According to him, this unit had organized the 2nd Blood Donation Camp on the September 19 at the H.Gordon Roberts, KJP Synod Hospital. The Blood Donation was conducted in the Blood Bank Unit of the Hospital.
On similar lines, a blood donation drive was organized at the Shillong Club which saw a huge number of youth and concern citizens of the city. Likewise, the same was conducted by the FKJGP Mawlai Circle at Mawlai Basic School.
However, despite many attempts, it was said that with a Voluntary Blood Donation (VBD) Percentage of only 11.05 percent of the target and 52.18 percent of the total collection from April to May 2012, Meghalaya is falling way below the average acquiring second from the bottom out of all the states in the country. In such cases, awareness holds the key. There is a general fear among the public that it is not safe to donate blood and such regular donations can harm the donor itself, which as doctors would say is null. Blood donation is in fact good for the human body as it allows scope for the generation of new blood and the human body’s mechanism is such that the donated blood is replenished in a matter of hours.
Lower turnouts during the organization of such camps only suggest that the State needs to pull up its socks in spreading awareness to the people especially those living in the rural areas.
It can be rightfully said that a drop of blood can save a life and as the Christian believes-Service to man is service to God. Same as what Ludwig Feuerbach, a German Philosopher quoted – “The first and highest law must be the love of man to man. Homo homini Deus est – this is the supreme practical maxim, this is the turning point of the world’s History.”
(By Ibankyntiew Mawrie)