Awareness programme on voluntary blood donation organised at Women’s College

March 5: The National Service Scheme (NSS) unit of Women’s College Silchar and the Red Ribbon Club of the college in collaboration with Cachar Cancer Hospital and Barak Valley Voluntary Blood Donors Forum, women’s wing organised an awareness programme on voluntary blood donation at the college premises on Saturday. On this occasion, the college felicitated Padma Shri Dr Ravi Kannan, noted oncologist and director of the Cachar Cancer Hospital.

Also, the Health Care Centre of Women’s College and Cachar Cancer Hospital in collaboration with Barak Valley Voluntary Blood Donors Forum Women’s Wing and Leo Club organised an exercise for the students and faculty members to undergo a test to check their Haemoglobin level.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Kannan, who was the chief guest of the event said, every day, there is an average requirement of over 500 units of blood across the three districts of Barak Valley. The overall population of Barak Valley is over 40 lakh and out of that at least 20-25 lakh people are in the age group to donate blood and save lives. If a fraction of this eligible population comes forward to donate blood voluntarily then there will no longer be any crisis of blood in this Valley.

“There is a popular belief that health gets affected if people donate blood, which is totally a misconception. People must step up voluntarily to respond to the need of society by donating blood. I appreciate the efforts of Women’s College Silchar for taking the step for conducting blood donation camps and spreading the message of donating blood for the larger interest of society. Safe blood donation practices will never harm the donors and aid the social obligations in a significant manner. Students of the college must promote and popularize voluntary blood donation in the community as a means to give back something to the community in times of health crisis.” Dr Kannan richly lauded the efforts of the Barak Valley Voluntary Blood Donors Forum in spreading awareness about blood donation.

Dr Kannan also underscored the fact that women’s health is the foremost priority in the family. A nutritional diet is required for preventing anaemia among women along with menstrual health. A regular check-up with the doctor to get the cause for anaemia corrected for timely treatment is the need of the hour, he said. The oncologist also shared vital points to keep the dreaded disease of cancer and other fatal diseases away with regular exercise and following a healthy lifestyle.

Earlier, Dr Manoj Kumar Paul, principal of the college addressed the gathering. Terming the occasion as a special and memorable one, Dr Paul said, “Padma Shri Dr Kannan is Godlike person to the people of Barak Valley and across the state. We the people of Barak Valley are proud of Dr Kannan and his service to mankind. He is a KARMA YOGI in the real sense of the term. He is echoing what Swamiji had said: Service to mankind is service to God. We are elated to welcome him to our institution and his presence will motivate the students and everyone present here. We must avoid professional blood donors and encourage voluntary blood donation for the larger interest of society. The event today will undergo the haemoglobin levels checked so that students become aware of their health status and become eligible for blood donation.

Dr Paul informed that a voluntary blood donation drive would be held in the college on March 8 to celebrate International Women’s Day, 2022. He also interacted with the students and delivered a presentation on voluntary blood donation. Also, a short film on the need for blood donation was screened. Sikta Paul, president, women’s wing of Barak Valley Voluntary Blood Donors Forum, general secretary of Barak Valley Voluntary Blood Donors Forum Karunamoy Paul, District secretary Sabyasachi Rudra Gupta and Dr Debabrata Dutta from the Cachar Cancer Hospital also spoke on the occasion. Dr Sanghamitra Debnath, programme officer of the NSS unit and Dr Ajanta Das, convener of the Health Care centre of the college informed that many students and even faculty members stepped up to undergo the haemoglobin test on the occasion. The entire event was anchored by Debasmita Biswas, a faculty member of the college.