Objectives:
Mobilize student community to donate blood, encourage others to do so, and disseminate knowledge on the subject
Member Involvement:
- Organize and coordinate voluntary blood donation camps in association with the SSG Hospital Blood Bank at various M.S. University facilities
- Organize camps at offices and industries in and around the city
Frequency / Location:
Around 15 camps in a year at various location in and around the Vadodara city
Blood donation activity was started in 1970 to fulfill the needs of the SSG Hospital Blood Bank which was running short of its total blood requirement. Friends Society has made a remarkable contribution towards organizing not only blood donation camps but also creating awareness among the public about blood donation and transfusion. FS has received the Asha Parekh trophy three times for collecting maximum number of units in Gujarat State. These camps are organized in various faculties of the University, banks, community and industrial organizations. FS also helps by responding to emergency calls from the blood bank to locate donors with rare blood type. For this purpose, a ‘Cardex’ system with contact information of regular donors was developed. In the past, efforts for creating awareness and disseminating scientific education among people about blood donation included talks by doctors, a pamphlet on anemia, etc.
During the first 25 years of its existence, FS had managed to collect more than 25,000 units of blood. The number of units collected annually through Friends Society varies and has ranged from 630 units in the early years to around 500 units in the recent years. Moreover, hundreds of students and volunteers have become regular blood donors. One active volunteer of early years has now donated blood more than 170 times. In the towns/cities where ex-members have settled, some have started local blood donation activities or have contributed to enhancing existing activities. This is an example of Friends Society’s ‘multiplier effect.’