As World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on Saturday, Ahmedabad has something to be proud of — the per capita blood donation in the city is three times the world average.
Recent world blood donation figures highlight the philanthropic spirit of the Amdavadi. The percentage of blood donors in Ahmedabad’s population is 3.30, much above the world figure of 1.15 per cent.
And, across Gujarat, which has 5.63 lakh donors, the figure stands at 1.11%, much above the national figure of 0.5%. Last year, the state collected 5.63 lakh units of blood while Punjab was second in the country with 2.29 lakh units, followed by Maharashtra.
Raising a toast to this great philanthropic feat is the Ahmedabad Red Cross Society (ARCS) and The Times of India, Ahmedabad, which will highlight extraordinary donors, especially the youth, to reach out the message to the masses. The city also boasts of the highest number of centurion blood donors in the country — 51 at present.
“It’s in the spirit of Gujaratis to serve humanity. People here believe that if they want something the only way they can get is by first giving,” says ARCS president Mukesh Patel, who has donated blood 121 times in 25 countries.
“I began donating blood at 18. I was participating in a protest rally against government when a tent caught fire. A minor girl sustained severe burns and I donated the first bottle of blood. Since then, blood donation has become duty which I fulfil regularly four times a year,” says Shailesh Thakore (59) who has donated blood 160 times and is arguably the number one donor in Gujarat.
Ahmedabad also has seven families which have donated 200 units of blood each. It is this spirit that makes Amdavadis organizes blood donation camps even to celebrate birth and death anniversaries. “I have come across many incidents when families organize blood donation camps during besnas, which happens only in Ahmedabad,” says Mukesh Patel.
14 Jun 2008, 0331 hrs IST, Ankur Jain,TNN
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AHMEDABAD: And, you thought they only knew how to make money? As World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on Saturday, Ahmedabad has something to be proud of — the per capita blood donation in the city is three times the world average.
Recent world blood donation figures highlight the philanthropic spirit of the Amdavadi. The percentage of blood donors in Ahmedabad’s population is 3.30, much above the world figure of 1.15 per cent.
And, across Gujarat, which has 5.63 lakh donors, the figure stands at 1.11%, much above the national figure of 0.5%. Last year, the state collected 5.63 lakh units of blood while Punjab was second in the country with 2.29 lakh units, followed by Maharashtra.
Raising a toast to this great philanthropic feat is the Ahmedabad Red Cross Society (ARCS) and The Times of India, Ahmedabad, which will highlight extraordinary donors, especially the youth, to reach out the message to the masses. The city also boasts of the highest number of centurion blood donors in the country — 51 at present.
“It’s in the spirit of Gujaratis to serve humanity. People here believe that if they want something the only way they can get is by first giving,” says ARCS president Mukesh Patel, who has donated blood 121 times in 25 countries.
“I began donating blood at 18. I was participating in a protest rally against government when a tent caught fire. A minor girl sustained severe burns and I donated the first bottle of blood. Since then, blood donation has become duty which I fulfil regularly four times a year,” says Shailesh Thakore (59) who has donated blood 160 times and is arguably the number one donor in Gujarat.
Ahmedabad also has seven families which have donated 200 units of blood each. It is this spirit that makes Amdavadis organizes blood donation camps even to celebrate birth and death anniversaries. “I have come across many incidents when families organize blood donation camps during besnas, which happens only in Ahmedabad,” says Mukesh Patel.
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