‘Donate blood. It simply has to circulate’

Mangaluru: The Father Muller’s Hospital observed World Blood Donor Day and inaugurated a Youth Red Cross unit at its premises here on July 13. The programme was started with a prayer song.

The dignitaries present on the stage included chief guest Dr. M Shantharam Shetty, Pro Chancellor of Nitte University and former chairman of Indian Red Cross Society for Dakshina Kannada; Rev. Fr. Richard Coelho, Director, FMCI; Rev. Fr. Rudolph Ravi D’Sa, Administrator, Father Muller Medical College Hospital; Rev. Fr. Ajith B. Menezes, Administrator, Father Muller Medical College; Dr. Jayaprakash Alva, Dean, FMMC and Dr. Kirana Pailoor, Associate Professor, Pathology.

Dean Dr. Jayaprakash Alva delivered the welcome speech. While doing so he spoke about the importance of blood donation and awareness on the same being the need of the hour. He ended his speech by saying, “Donate blood. It simply has to circulate. The celebrations were continued with lighting of the lamp.

Chief Guest Dr. M Shantharam Shetty speaking on the occasion, said the doctors had struggled for about 200 years to decide on whether to donate blood or not. He said that Karl Landsteiner, the Austrian biologist was the first person to develop blood group system. “He said donate blood as it is the most precious gift you can give to another person and it would give us a sense of satisfaction”, Dr. Shetty said.

At the end, he congratulated the newly appointed director Richard Coelho and wished him well to take this prestigious institution to higher levels.

Giving the presidential address, Rev. Fr. Richard Coelho thanked Dr. Shantharam Shetty for being there in spite of his busy schedule. He continued to say that in the Bible it is said that donate with joy but don’t donate with grief, as it would not be called donating if its done with grief. He said donating blood should be considered God’s work. Father Muller’s has been and will continue to work towards creating more awareness about blood donation, he added.

Dr. Kirana Pailoor said the World Blood Donors Day was an event established by WHO in 2004 to create awareness about blood donation. Father Muller Institutions have a donor club to contact during emergency blood requirements. The blood bank at Father Muller Institution has the least amount of wastage when the blood is taken in, he added.

Dr. Maithri proposed a vote of thanks and ended by saying to save a person one doesn’t need to be a doctor but be a donor instead.