Come Christmas, and you are sure to hear carols, one of which is the popular Feliz Navidad, a Spanish phrase that means ‘Merry Christmas’. At a Tardeo school over the weekend, it was Feliz ‘Navy’dad as civilians wished the Indian Navy a Merry Christmas in an inspiring way, through blood donation. Several persons, especially from the Tardeo, Grant Road, and other areas in the SoBo vicinity, responded to a call by the recently formed New Chikhalwadi Welfare Association to donate blood for the Indian Navy, Air Force and Army.
Doctors and personnel from the INHS Asvini Hospital, the oldest command hospital of the Indian Navy in Navy Nagar, Colaba, were in charge of the donation drive. This was the fledgling Association`s first event.
Patriotic fervour was full on when one visited the Sundatta school tucked away inside Talmaki Wadi in Tardeo. The donation was held inside the school hall. For Amit Bhalerao, 47, a regular blood donor, this donation felt dutiful and different. Bhalerao said while donating blood, “I am here safe within these walls, lying on a bed, monitored by doctors as I donate blood. To what or whom do we owe this safety? Our forces, of course.”
Avinash S Raut, 55, also donating blood, said, “I donate blood annually at a hospital. When I learnt of this opportunity, I grabbed it. This is my time to do something for our warriors in uniform.”
Surgeon Lieutenant Commander Balu B, transfusion medicine specialist, INHS Asvini, who was supervising proceedings, explained, “Blood is unique. It cannot be replaced by any chemical. A blood donation is more than simply a blood donation. There are three components that are prepared from a single donation of whole blood: Red blood cells (RBCs), platelets and plasma, and these can be used for the benefit of three different patients.”
The surgeon added, “Social as well as audio visual media appreciate defence and understand the need for supporting men in uniform. The INHS Asvini caters for Army, Navy, Air Force veterans and their families. Any volunteer can donate at the blood centre on any working day.”
Debutant donors
From regulars to debut donors, people traipsed in at regular intervals. For first-time donor Krishna N Sheth, 20, there was pride in beginning his donation journey by giving for the defence. “We civilians, cannot go to the front to fight. We can contribute in small ways like these.”
Blood donation camp organiser Prashant Amberkar, who has been holding donation camps for years in Prabhadevi, was at the venue to help out because of his experience. He said, “I hope everybody is imbued with patriotic feelings. First-time donors or even those who wish to donate seem slightly apprehensive. Yet, there is nothing to worry about donating, follow all advice to the ‘T’.”
Blood donor Sagar Lotankar said, “We must give to let live” while Mahesh C, also donating, said, “The feeling here is palpable. Let us awaken this in everyone.”
