The Youth Movement of the CSI Parish (Malayalam) Dubai conducted a blood donation camp on Friday, 9th February 2024, as part of its community outreach activity complementing the efforts of the government blood banks. The program started at 4.30 pm with the prayer of our vicar, Rev. Raju Jacob. Around 53 parishioners donated blood at the camp.
The facility for collecting blood was arranged at the compound of the Holy Trinity Church. Mrs. Susan Libini was the coordinator of the project, liaising with the DHA-Blood Donation Center forming part of the Latifa Hospital, Dubai, the beneficiary of this project. The blood donated by our parishioners will mainly be benefitting Thalassemia patients treated at the Latifa Hospital. Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that causes our body to have less hemoglobin than normal. Hemoglobin enables red blood cells to carry oxygen. Thalassemia can cause anemia, leaving the patient fatigued. (Source : www.mayoclinic.org)
The gift of blood is the gift of life. Our Youth Movement organised this program with the aim of educating the parishioners on the beneficial aspects of blood donation and to promote awareness about safe blood transfusion, while motivating people to donate blood voluntarily for a noble cause.
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated around the world on 14th June by the UN. The need for blood is universal, but access to blood is not. In many countries, blood services face the challenge of making sufficient blood available, while also ensuring its quality and safety. Lack of access to safe blood and blood products – especially in low and middle-income countries, impacts on all patients, including those requiring regular transfusion. (Source : www.who.int)
It is worth mentioning that the Youth Movement of CSI Parish (Malayalam) Dubai has been regularly conducting Blood Donation Campaigns during pre-covid times, which was also a means of supporting the Andhra Mission. May God bless our Youth members, who worked hard to make this project come to fruition.
The campaign ended around 8.30 pm with prayer by Mr. Saji K. George (Church Committee Representative).