When requests for more commonly available B+ve and O+ve units become a norm on our helpline, it is an indication that the need of the hour is more blood donation drives. Come mid April, and the first traces of the challenge were seen. Within 3 weeks the situation had worsened. How prepared was Sankalp to fight this out?
Well, we would say that the preparation was fair. The team working on blood donation drives had started speaking to several organizations since March and was looking to have a continuous series of blood donation drives. The publicity campaign was centered around how donating blood during this period would mean easing the pain of blood search for almost every patient. We pressed hard on publicity - several organizations were requested to give us access to speak to donors or to drive the communication to them. Colored posters, brochures were used for publicity at almost all places. Meetings were held with blood bank teams to prepare for a heavy workload and at times be in blood donation drives day after day. Internally at Sankalp, we planned to get some volunteers and interns on board during this period of high activity. For our Rakta Kranti program coordinators, the next 3 months were about 2 things - wake up, pack your bags for a blood donation drive or go knock on doors of organizations in the search of more blood donation drives.
But then what is all this preparation without the real heroes stepping up? As expected these selfless men and women showed up - and in huge numbers. In 51 blood donation drives between 1 April - 30 June 2015, close to 6000 blood donors showed up in our voluntary blood donation drives. In several drives, donors had to be kept waiting for over an hour owing to space restrictions. On an average atleast 8-10 donors had to be requested to donate next time as their donation could not be accommodated (these donors mostly came in after the camp was closed). The overwhelming response left all of us gasping for breath. In total about 4800 units of blood were collected in these drives. A special note of thanks to each organizing committee, the admins, security, facilities staff in each organization for making the events a grand success.
We cannot recollect names or blood groups or how long each one waited to get a chance to donate - but we do remember faces, faces of anticipation and expectation while waiting in queues, faces of joy and satisfaction after having donated, faces of pain and anguish on being deferred. The commitment and will to be there and donate irrespective of what it takes deserves an applause. These are the real faces that care, that weep for their fellow brethren and go on to making life better for them. We cannot thank them enough!
Summer after summer we are fighting blood shortage. Summer after summer we are stretching ourselves and the blood banks in the city are backing us by striving to maintain quality in every drive. The blood bank teams from Victoria, Bowring, Rashtrothana, Nimhans, Narayana Hrudayalaya, ESI, Sanjay Gandhi deserve rich credit.
What is in it for Sankalp? Well, these words from some donors tell us that we must not give up -
It was all smooth. Thank you for giving us a chance to donate. And God bless you all for this good work
Happy to donate blood. It was a nice experience for me since this is the first time :-) Thank you.
This is the 11th time and the hospitality service provided is the "best" I have ever had. Highly appreciate your efforts. God bless you :-)
Happy to donate blood. Service was very good.
Next summer is calling already.
But then what is all this preparation without the real heroes stepping up? As expected these selfless men and women showed up - and in huge numbers. In 51 blood donation drives between 1 April - 30 June 2015, close to 6000 blood donors showed up in our voluntary blood donation drives. In several drives, donors had to be kept waiting for over an hour owing to space restrictions. On an average atleast 8-10 donors had to be requested to donate next time as their donation could not be accommodated (these donors mostly came in after the camp was closed). The overwhelming response left all of us gasping for breath. In total about 4800 units of blood were collected in these drives. A special note of thanks to each organizing committee, the admins, security, facilities staff in each organization for making the events a grand success.
We cannot recollect names or blood groups or how long each one waited to get a chance to donate - but we do remember faces, faces of anticipation and expectation while waiting in queues, faces of joy and satisfaction after having donated, faces of pain and anguish on being deferred. The commitment and will to be there and donate irrespective of what it takes deserves an applause. These are the real faces that care, that weep for their fellow brethren and go on to making life better for them. We cannot thank them enough!
Summer after summer we are fighting blood shortage. Summer after summer we are stretching ourselves and the blood banks in the city are backing us by striving to maintain quality in every drive. The blood bank teams from Victoria, Bowring, Rashtrothana, Nimhans, Narayana Hrudayalaya, ESI, Sanjay Gandhi deserve rich credit.
What is in it for Sankalp? Well, these words from some donors tell us that we must not give up -
It was all smooth. Thank you for giving us a chance to donate. And God bless you all for this good work
Happy to donate blood. It was a nice experience for me since this is the first time :-) Thank you.
This is the 11th time and the hospitality service provided is the "best" I have ever had. Highly appreciate your efforts. God bless you :-)
Happy to donate blood. Service was very good.
Next summer is calling already.Patrika Edition
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