CONSUMER CONCERNS…BLOOD DONORS ARE HEROES – THEY SAVE LIVES

Oct 29, 2017 News

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by PAT DIAL

Three Sundays ago, we had the rewarding experience of attending the Speech Day of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan School on West Coast Demerara. The occasion was very reminiscent of the Speech Days of the Old Queen’s College of 50 to 60 years ago.
The boys of this boy’s school were accorded a well-rounded education in those times and this made Queen’s famous well beyond the shores of Guyana. Saraswati Vidya Niketan, likewise, cultivates well-rounded students, developing them intellectually, morally and physically. The outstanding performances of its students at the CXC Examinations are known Caribbean-wide.
To encounter a school in Guyana where “mens sana in corpore sano” (a healthy mind in healthy body) together with the cultivation of a strong ethical commitment had been achieved was indeed a very pleasant surprise since most tend to assume that the ideal of a rounded education had long disappeared.
In the short time between programme items, we questioned pupils to try to find out their take on the success of their fine school. They said their motto was their living guide. Their motto, in both Sanskrit and English, could be seen in various places. It is: Satyam vada – Be always truthful; Dharmam cara – Practice Righteousness; Svadhayanan Ma Pramadah – Never Abandon Studies.
Many also claimed that the name of their school was an inspiration: Saraswati – that aspect of God which is invoked to develop Education; Vidya – Learning in its widest sense; Niketan (pron. Nee – kay – tan) means “abode” Thus their school’s name could roughly be translated as “ An abode of Learning grounded in God’s inspiration”.An example of the pupils’ ethical commitment is manifested in their biennial donation of hundreds of units of blood to the National Blood Bank. Indeed, in one year, SVN’s contribution was 10% of the holdings of the Blood Bank.
Blood collected is used for transfusions. Blood transfusion is the transference of blood collected into the Circulatory System of another person, mostly to save that person’s life. This involves special skills in drawing blood from the donor; storing such blood for a comparatively lengthy period; then getting such blood into the patient’s body. Blood incorrectly drawn or stored is useless. The Blood Transfusion process is always administered in a hospital or in hospital conditions.
A few examples of the value of blood transfusion: In traffic, industrial and other accidents, victims often lose a great of blood which if not quickly replaced could result in death. Each year, therefore, blood transfusions save the lives of numerous victims.
Patients who have to go through various surgical operations may lose blood, which if not quickly replaced, may result in death or further deterioration in health. Sometimes, surgeons may not perform operations except blood transfusion is available to the patients.
Many, especially the aged, often suffer from debilitation and a falling blood count. If one’s blood count falls too low, one could become unconscious and die. Blood transfusions save the lives of many such persons.
Sometimes, in childbirth, mothers may have to be given blood transfusions to save their lives.
Many persons understand the moral imperative of donating blood but are inhibited from donating by fear that giving blood would weaken one’s body and that blood given could never be replaced. These fears are groundless as blood donated is replaced by the body itself in 60 days and donating blood has never weakened any donor.
Blood could be donated at the Blood Banks at any of the following hospitals: Georgetown Public Hospital; Suddie Hospital; West Demerara Regional Hospital; New Amsterdam Hospital; Linden Hospital.
There is always a shortage of blood at the hospitals and members of the public are enjoined to donate to save lives. Most are occasional donors but there are a few who are regular and would have donated tens of units over many years.
The solution to having adequate blood banks lie in having institutional donors. The Saraswati Vidya Niketan model is one which could be adopted by educational and other such institutions countrywide. The model is quite simple. The students on their own donate and then recruit parents, members of family, friends and members of their Community to donate. Since part of the school’s population changes every year, new donors would become available.
Pupils who have done very well in recruiting are recognized by the school.
The Ministry of Education, the Teachers College and the University of Guyana could begin to educate their publics as to the moral, ethical and practical reasons for blood donations and at the same time organize themselves into regular institutional donors.

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