Blood Donation Drive

Did you know that in India, around a third of the population requires a blood transfusion in their lifetime? Or that every 2 seconds, somewhere in India, someone requires a blood donation?

A blood donation occurs when a person voluntarily has blood drawn which is then used for transfusions made into pharmaceutical medications by a process called fractionation (separation of whole blood components). Donation may be of the entire blood, or specific components only (apheresis). Blood banks often participate in the collection process as well as the procedures that follow it.

The objective of collecting blood through voluntary blood donation are:

1. Provide safe and quality blood and blood components collected from voluntary donors, round the clock, at an affordable cost to the general public and free of cost to the poor. 

2. Ensure safety and quality of blood.

Donating blood has benefits for your emotional and physical health-

• It reduces stress
• Improve your emotional well-being
• Benefits your physical health
• Helps get rid of negative feelings
• Provides a sense of belonging and reduces isolation

Considering all the above advantages, the committees of Enactus S.P.I.T and Rotaract Club of S.P.I.T held a blood donation drive in the college on 12th April 2022. The drive was held in collaboration with IIC S.P.I.T and Sir J. J. Mahanagar Blood Bank of Byculla.

The event commenced with a basic introduction about the need for blood donation in our society. A group of four Doctors and 10 assistants had come to the college. Some basic instructions were given by them. The organising team had arranged all the beds and necessary equipment for them along with tea and samosa for breakfast.

The main event then got started with students from all divisions and branches starting to gather in the hall. The announcement of the procedure had begun which had to be followed by everyone. Initially, everyone had to check their haemoglobin level in the body and for the presence of any other kind of disease before donating their blood. They ensured that those who have a Hg level up to a minimum of at least 12.5 only are eligible for donating blood. These criteria were set for both boys as well as girls.

After around 20 – 30 minutes, the blood donation process for each person got completed and the donors were given juice boxes and biscuits to rehydrate themselves.

A certificate of blood donation was also issued by the Enactus team and a group photo was clicked which was posted on social media. The organisers were able to achieve their minimum target of 50 donors and were glad to see that more people had turned up for the drive than they expected. The doctor and staff were greeted by the chairman of the Enactus and Rotaract teams at the end of the eve. The entire event promoted social good and helped promote an important social cause in the college.

-A report by Sakshi Bisen