'Include blood donation in calendar of events of colleges'

Blood donation camps should be part of the curriculum and included in the calendar of events of the colleges, opined Assistant Drugs Controller K V Nagaraj, who is also the secretary of the DK district unit of the Indian Red Cross Society.

Addressing students of Mangalore Institute of Fire and Safety Engineering (MIFSE) – prior to the inauguration of the blood donation camp – he said that there is a need to create awareness on the benefits of blood donation as many persons are still apprehensive about donating blood.

Explaining the activities of the Red Cross, he said that most of the blood collected through camps is being given free of cost to needy BPL cardholders among others.

MIFSE MD Vinod K John appealed to students to donate blood and thereby save lives of people. “You should be happy because your blood can save many lives,” he said. In fact, he, as well as Institute Principal Yeshwanth Shetty, donated their blood and encouraged students to donate blood.

Media Alumni Association of Mangalagangothri (MAAM) President Florine Roche said that if students start donating blood at the age of 18 years – and even if they donate blood only once in a year (though they can donate 4 times) – they will be able to donate 42 times in their life (until the age of 60 years) and save several lives. A total of 39 persons including students and faculty donated their blood.