Celebrating a day like the National Volunteer Blood Day is meant to convert general volunteers to blood donors, encourage the donors to be regular donors, and encourage regular donors to be motivators.
In 2002, some Red Cross life members, some blood donors and some motivators, along with me, formed an organisation to increase the percentage of voluntary blood donation in Odisha. At that time, voluntary blood donation in our State was negligible, nearly 12 percent. Our organisation’s name was Orissa Voluntary Blood Donors’ and Motivators’ Association (OVBDMA). The association had many district branches. Total 331 life members were working with us from 14 districts like Khurdha, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Ganjam, Kendrapada, Dhenkanal, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Cuttack, Puri and Boudh. After that, we also worked in other districts like Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Deogarh etc.
The organisation was formed on July 14, 2002, where I was first acting as the convenor and then the founder president. With the help of the Indian Red Cross Society, Odisha State branch, and the State Blood Transfusion Council, Odisha, we had done many small blood donation camps throughout the State along with mega camps at Angul, Bhubaneswar, Brahmapur, again at Brahmapur, then Dhenkanal and Bhubaneswar. In the year 2005, when the percentage of voluntary blood donation was below 40 percent in our State, it wasn’t easy to motivate people to donate blood.
Before the Red Cross monthly meeting for November 2004 near the registration counter, Dr Debasish Mishra, BBO, Capital Hospital Red Cross Blood Bank, discussed with me about mega blood donation camps in our State. At that time, honorary secretary of the Indian Red Cross Society, Odisha State Branch Rabiratna Das was passing by and asked us what we were discussing. We told that we were thinking of organising a mega voluntary blood donation camp at Bhubaneswar, where more than 2,000 donors would donate blood. Immediately, he said, Dillipbabu, there is no earth below your feet, how can you do? I said, sir, the earth will be created wherever I stand! He asked me this as he knew that I had recently been defeated in the election of Orissa Voluntary Blood Donors’ and Motivators’ Association for the post of president.
Then I discussed with the president and secretary of the OVBDMA, Khurdha District Branch, and called the Executive Committee (EC) meeting at Bhubaneswar. At that EC meeting, it was decided that OVBDMA, Khurdha District Branch, would organise a mega voluntary blood donation camp at Bhubaneswar. I was nominated as the chairman of that camp. After that, I called a preparatory meeting at Red Cross Bhawan, where many volunteers and voluntary organisations participated and consented to participate in the camp.
After that, we formed various committees. In the Advisory Committee, officials like the Mayor, BMC Mihir Mohanty, Collector, Khurda Krushna Chandra Mohapatra, DIG, CRPF SK Mishra, SP, Khurda, Bhubaneswar Amitabh Thakur, Honorary Secretary of Indian Red Cross Society, Odisha State Branch Rabiratna Das, Director, State Blood Transfusion Council Dr Lokanatha Hati, Assistant Director of the State AIDS Cell, Dr Annapurna Mishra were there. Dr Niranjan Pradhan, CMO, Capital Hospital. Dr Debasis Mishra, BBO, Red Cross Blood Bank, Capital Hospital, and Dr Pratima Pattnaik, BBO, Municipality Hospital, were on the Technical Committee. As the chairman of the Organising Committee, I had to visit many voluntary organisations and colleges to motivate youths to donate blood and participate with us.
Voluntary organisations like the Rotary Club of Bhubaneswar Cosmopolitan, etc., and universities and colleges in and around spontaneously called me for motivational camps before the donation date.
The mega voluntary blood donation camp was fixed for April 1, 2005 on the Utkal Divas. Just before 15 days, the Collector, Khurdha –cum- Chairman, Indian Red Cross Society, Khorda District branch agreed to be the co-organiser of the mega camp. On March 15, 2005, the first preparatory meeting was held. In the meeting, it was decided that ADM Bhubaneswar Rabi Narayana Nanda will be the overall in charge of the mega camp. The micro plan was chalked out. A checklist was also prepared. The second preparatory –cum- review meeting was held on March 24, 2005 to review decisions taken on the introductory session for the mega camp. For the grand success of the camp, we prepared souvenirs, posters, banners, leaflets, consent forms for donors, a motor cycle rally, and a chariot to move throughout the district.
The then Governor Rameshwar Thakur inaugurated the camp as chief guest at Capital High School, Bhubaneswar. A total 14 Blood Banks engaged themselves for collecting blood. A total 2,002 donors donated blood, which was a great success.
(Founder president,
Odisha Voluntary Blood Donors’ and Motivators’ Association,
Bhubaneswar; M: 9938537600)