On the mission of blood donation

Tirupati: The 42-year-old Superintendent in Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has every reason to be happy with full of satisfaction as he provided blood to the needy almost 50 times till now. Started at the age of 18 while he was in NCC camp, Chintala Siva Kumar has been donating blood in regular intervals and motivated several others to follow him in this noble cause.

He also started an association called ‘Sree Vari Blood Donors Association’ in 1999 to take his mission forward. Till now, he conducted about 40 blood donation camps on various occasions making at least 1,000 people to donate blood in those camps. “I used to give blood 3-4 times a year in the beginning. As the awareness has been increasing among people, the requirement for blood has been coming down gradually.

Now, I am confined to give it whenever it is required,” he told The Hans India on the occasion of ‘World Blood Donors Day–2018’ to be observed on Thursday. “In 1997, India celebrates golden jubilee year of its Independence and every organisation was in full of celebration. I thought TTD should also celebrate it in a fitting manner and initiated a blood donation camp for the first time in the organisation and ensured that its employees participate in blood donation in a big way,” he recalled.

Since then, he was instrumental in organising several camps, blood grouping programmes in a bid to motivate public on blood donation. Also, conducted AIDS awareness programmes like rallies and meetings. Still, people were having several myths and apprehensions on blood donation, he felt.

Unless someone experience a trouble for blood in emergency they could not realise its importance which can be changed through creating more awareness, Siva Kumar working in Vaikuntam Q complex explained, adding that any pilgrim who donates blood at Tirumala Aswini Hospital can have darshan of Lord Venkateswara through Supadam entry. Similarly, if any government employee donates blood, he is entitled for one day casual leave as per government orders. But, majority of employees or pilgrims do not know this. More publicity can bring awareness among
people, he opined.

“Tirupati is becoming an educational hub with several universities and other prestigious educational institutions and engineering colleges. If each college conducts one blood donation camp in a year then the blood banks in the temple city can be strengthened so that in case of emergency any pilgrim or denizens can get blood without difficulty and students would know the importance of donating blood,” he explained. For this, an initiative will be required, he added. In the same breath, he felt that several blood banks have no full-fledged staff.

“If 100 people go at a time to give blood, the blood banks have no facilities,” he pointed out. Aswini Hospital or TTD Central Hospital do not perform any surgeries. It only supplies bloodto other hospitals when they need it. He stressed on the need for the centralisation of data bank so that blood donors can be contacted based on their requirement.

Siva Kumar expressed displeasure over blood banks insisting Aadhaar card from those interested in donating blood. Even with Aadhaar identity, donors are made to wait for long hours. “The procedural delays are discouraging the donors from donating blood,” he stated. He further stressed on recognising the blood donors with certificates besides dispelling the myths on blood donation.