redcross
IRCS Expresses Gratitude to its Blood Donors
June 14th, 2009

This year’s theme for World Blood Donor Day 2009 is “Achieving 100 percent non-remunerated donation of blood and blood components”. Experts on blood services emphasized unanimously in a seminar hosted by the IRCS, “This can be achieved by blood donor motivation, retention of regular voluntary donors and motivation of replacement donors to become voluntary.”

In the same seminar Dr. S. P. Agarwal, Secretary General, IRCS stated, “The IRCS Blood Bank at National Headquarters has already achieved 84 percent non-remunerated voluntary donation of blood. In 2008, 18,000 units of blood were collected from voluntary donors and by 2010 we aim to take voluntary blood collection to 95 percent”. He thanked all the blood donors and organizers of the blood camps for their kind gesture and for supporting the cause of the organization in saving lives. All distinguished donors and blood camp organizers were felicitated by the society.

“Indian Red Cross Society has been the pioneer in the field of blood services and has been operating one of the major voluntary blood banks in India since 1962. The IRCS is running 116 blood banks across 14 States and the centers collect over five lakh units annually. IRCS (NHQ) is upgrading and expanding its blood services and is making it into a ‘state of art’ blood service centre and arm it with training facilities of the highest standards”, informs Dr Agarwal.

Representative of the Sant Nirankari Mandal, New Delhi felicitated on the occasion said, “There are evidences from around the world that demonstrate that voluntary, unpaid donors are the foundation of safe blood supply. They are least likely to transmit potentially life-threatening infections; hence we partner with the Red Cross in Delhi and its other centres.

NK Singh
Director,Information
 
Address by a Thalassaemic, Rohin Anand, in a function held on 14.06.2009 to commemorate World Blood Donors Day
 

Respected Dr. S.P. Agarwal, Secretary General, Indian Red Cross Society present on the dias and the august gathering.

A very good morning to everyone.

My name is Rohin Anand and I’m persuing BCA from IP University. I’m living with Thalassaemia from the past two decades now and its an integral part of my life.

I won’t say I am suffering, as living with Thalassaemia is a pride. We are the ones who set benchmarks. Do things, which become inspirational stories for others. And the best contribution we supply to the world around us is with motivation…….. motivation in all forms- Physical and Mental.

Hardships are a part of life but it’s a habit for us. There are moments when thoughts flash our mind. Thoughts like Why Me? But at the same time courage flows through our body, it is the courage to stand up and face the world.

Certain things have now become monotonous, like taking a transfusion every fortnight, getting blood a day before from Red Cross and carrying the same along to the hospital.

There are difficult times for us as well as the staff members of the Red Cross Blood Bank are under pressure due to simple law of Economics i.e. increased demand and less supply. But these moments don’t last for a long time because nice people like you step forward, empathize with us and arrange blood by organizing blood donation camps. Courageous people, our beloved donors, who feel the same prick of the needle which we go through, and merrily donate blood for us. They are our pillars of strength who don’t care for the pain they get and still donate blood despite all opposition from their well wishers.

We’re extremely proud to have people who take out time from their busy schedule; they might be living far in terms of distance but they are just a phone call away whenever we need them.

So today on 14th June i.e. World Blood Donors Day, I would like to thank all our worthy donors and organizers of Blood Donation Camps who tirelessly throughout the year and the members of the Red Cross Family as without their help and co-operation life of Thalassaemia and their parents wouldn’t have been a “Walk in the Park.”

In the end I would like to say thanks to our real heroes on behalf of all like me from the core of my heart.

And may you touch the stars.

 
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