'Blood is precious, there is no substitute for it'

“Though science and technology have developed to a great extent, no person has succeeded in finding an alternative or a substitute for blood. Hence, the blood is very precious,” opined Health Minister U T Khader.

He was speaking after inaugurating a blood donation camp, organised by the NSS unit of Milagres College in association with Blood Bank of Indian Red Cross Society, Media Alumni Association of Mangalagangothri (MAAM), Lions Club and JCI, at Milagres College on Saturday. Khader praised all those students who donated their blood.

Stating that the blood donated by the students would go a long way in saving the lives of many people, he allayed their fears and myths about donating the blood.

“There was a time when people thought twice before donating their blood,” he said and added that the new technology and modern syringes were very safe and there was little or no pain while drawing the blood.

The minister also elaborated on the initiatives taken by the Health department to ensure that those who needed blood, got it on time.

Mayor Jacintha Vijaya Alfred, who was the chief guest, lauded the efforts of the Milagres College for organising the blood donation camp and called it a noble deed.

Earlier, welcoming the guests, College Principal Rev Fr Michael Santhumayor said that the students of the Milagres College were ever ready to donate the blood and also regularly donated the blood to Wenlock Hospital, whenever there was a need or whenever they got a call from the hospital. College Correspondent Rev Fr Valerian D’Souza presided over the programme.
76 donate blood

Incidentally, the MAAM too launched its blood donation campaign in association with the IRCS and the NSS units of colleges coming under Mangalore University in the district, in the College on Saturday. The MAAM planned to collect 1,000 units of the blood from its campaign.

Though many females, initially, were hesitant to donate the blood, as the blood donation was in progress, many females volunteered to donate the blood.

“I was very scared to donate the blood. Now, that I have donated the blood, I am feeling very happy and will regularly donate the blood,” said Harshitha, a first year BCom student. A total of 76 persons including students, staff, faculty and the MAAM members donated the blood. Quite interestingly, a number of students donated blood for the first time in their life.