Indian Youth Strive to Make Blood Donation a Successful CSR

#WorldBloodDonorDay – Despite of a population of 1.253 billion, India faces a deficit of over 4 crore blood units. Studies have found that our nation requires 5 crore units of blood each year of which only 80 lakh units are available. With a shelf life as short as 35 to 42 days, there is an endless need of blood units to stock the blood banks with fresh blood. As much as 100 units of blood are required to cure an accident victim. Since the demand of blood units can’t be reduced, there is a need to spread awareness and there couldn’t be an occasion better than the World Blood Donor Day.

India is a young country and who will solve this problem if not the young generation. People are becoming more aware about the imbalance in the demand and supply of blood. The youth is motivated and strives to solve the problem at hand.

To mark the World Blood Donor Day on June 14, a blood donation campaign was started in the holy city of Varanasi. A large number of volunteers came in to donate their blood and majority of them were young. Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University (IMS-BHU) has provided records that justify that the number of donors has increased extraordinarily. IMS also implicated that they have a larger number of regular donors.

The number of voluntary donors has seen a drastic rise in Gujarat, West Bengal, Chandigarh, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Various medical authorities of India have started conducting awareness programs in schools and colleges to motivate students to donate blood. Events like blood donation awareness program organized in Mannarkkad, Kerala and blood donation facts: lessons and interaction conducted by NSS help in imparting necessary information to the students.

Since lack of awareness and misconceptions are the major reasons behind decline in voluntary blood donors and blood unit deficit, educating students regarding blood donation is a must. Communicating necessary information like donating blood in a hygienic environment, having regular checkups before donating blood, blood donation process, gaps between two donations, safety measures, etc is a must.

The fear of needles and diseases caused by transfusions is what discourages people from donating blood. With determination and right approach we can enlighten people and inspire them to work for this cause.

World Blood Donor’s Day is the time of the year when we should all take the initiative to bring people together and talk to resolve the doubts and fears related to blood donation. If every eligible donor donates blood twice a year, more than half the yearly demand will be met.

Kunal Saraff, a determinant citizen, started ‘The Saviours’ organization to provide blood to people who urgently need it. The organization was started through a Facebook page and now has 500+ donor arrangements during emergencies. Kunal proved that fortitude and effort is all we need to fight the nation’s blood unit deficit.