Srinagar, June 13: As the world commemorates World Blood Donor Day, Jammu and Kashmir is fortunate to have some saviour female blood donors who have set a shining example of social service and stand ready to donate blood for the needy at critical times.
Kiran Sharma, a retired medical officer from Jammu, is one of them, having donated 60 pints of blood in the last four decades, the highest ever in the female category. She last donated in 2019, after her retirement, at the Government Medical College in Srinagar.
A resident of Jammu region, she was honoured for her extraordinary contribution. “I felt inner peace at all times. I started it in 1987, when I was a medical student at PGI Rohtak,” she explained.
Sharma, a human rights and social activist, finds fulfilment in social work and has voluntarily joined several non-governmental organisations for the betterment of society.
The female doctor also volunteers with the All India Women Conference, which helps destitute, abandoned, and divorced women.
“There was a phobia about blood donation earlier, but now people are coming and are aware,” she said. Sharma recalls working as a Casuality Medical Officer (CMO) at Gandhinagar Hospital and donating there.
“When I first started, there were no female donors in Jammu, but things have changed, and young girls are coming forward.” “We’ve been through a lot, and we need to help each other,” she said.
“I went to donate blood for a serious patient one day.” “When I got home, my son asked me why I donated blood and now you’re going to die,” Sharma explained. “I told him no, I was not going to die.” “As he got older, I encouraged him to donate blood,” she explained.
Blood shortages are common in Kashmiri hospitals, as blood banks occasionally run dry. However, these unsung heroes are always willing to donate blood and travel to blood banks.
Another blood donor is BilqeesAra, an ASHA worker who works at a health centre in Gundchabotra village, Kupwara. In the last nine years, she has donated 31 pints.
The 31-year-old female blood donor first donated blood in 2012, when her pregnant cousin was in desperate need.
“I accompanied my cousin sister to the hospital after doctors told her she needed blood. There was no male donor available at the time. That’s how I donated the first time,” she explained.
Bilqees, a mother of three children, said that once, when her child was ill in a Srinagar hospital, she donated blood.
She claims that most of the women in her area suffer from anaemia and are frequently in need of blood, especially when giving birth.
“I am always prepared to donate blood.” I’m donating it solely to save lives. It has no effect on your health. “I am happier and stronger than other women,” she said.
Bilquees said once there was a pregnant lady from her area who was admitted in LalDed maternity hospital Srinagar and she needed blood immediately.
She was informed about at 11 p.m. She along with her husband drove to Srinagar during night and donated blood for the patient which helped make recovery possible.
Besides being a blood donor, she is an active campaigner for the cause as well.
“I ask everyone to donate blood. There is nothing wrong with it. There is still a social stigma about it when it comes to females. But, now, I am happy that many women are calling me and are ready to donate as well,” she said.
“If I save a life by donating one pint, it gives me pleasure. I want to donate till my last breath,” said Bilquees, who is satisfied being part of the cause.
A regular blood donor at DH Handwara, she has donated blood at SDH Kupwara and LD Hospital Srinagar on several occasions.
“Whenever a patient needs blood, officials at Blood Bank at DH Handwara call me and I try to make myself available at quickly as possible to donate blood,” she said.
Bilqees said her determination has also motivated her husband who is also a blood donor. She is encouraging women in her neighbourhood women to donate blood.
JameelaBano, 45, a resident of Ganderbal district is another blood donor who has donated 10 pints in the past eighteen years. “My in-laws support me for this. I actively started donating blood after giving birth to my children. I do it for the sake of humanity,” she said.
Jameela, a mother of two children, recalls that she first time donated blood at a donation camp in Bandipora, north of Srinagar, way back in 2000.
“I am always ready. There is no issue if I have to leave my home in the evening or at what time for the same. If my blood saves a precious life what else can I do after that,” she says.
In J&K, women unusually donate blood with the reasons being psychological, cultural and social ones. The predominant one seems fear of collection process.
“We don’t have a culture of donating blood here. If one donates many people see like why you did it but others appreciate it,” Jameela said.
In Jammu and Kashmir, there are 20 female donors who are registered under AhliBayat Charitable Trust, a local trust through which they donate blood.
“They donate blood once or twice a year,” said ShabirHussain Khan, a management member of the trust. He heads 2,100 volunteer donors across Jammu and Kashmir. Khan has donated 183 pints in past and is known as blood man of Kashmir.
In J&K, there are 150-200 female volunteers registered with Indian Red Cross Society, a voluntary humanitarian organization to protect human life.
Khan, who has become India’s biggest blood donor, also heads a WhatsApp group of blood 300 blood donors in Kashmir. “During any kind of emergency in hospitals, we get all the updates and we inform donors accordingly to arrange the blood,” he said.
During 2014-15, Government Medical College, Srinagar conducted a study titled ‘Gender Differences in Blood Donation’ among donors of Kashmir which had found that females contribute only 4.44% of blood while blood donation by males was 95.56% in J&K.
“It was also found that blood group-B was more common in females. Among women female blood group-O was predominant,” said the study, conducted by three PG scholars.
Dr JavaidIqbal Khan, a senior haematologist at LD Hospital, said when they require blood during emergencies, they inform public and volunteer donors directly.
“Unmarried females should prefer to donate blood more than those who are married. If a married woman donates blood, there are chances of anti-bodies and chances of a reaction are more,” he said.
The need of blood is often felt at the maternity hospital which covers most of the pregnant women from Kashmir. The doctor said that a female can donate blood three times a year, while a male can donate four-time.
“Females have physiological blood losses during periods and may lose 30-50 ml of blood during each period. They have iron deficiency. Their hemoglobin should be 12.5 and after that, they can donate,” he says.
Khan says those who donate blood, it regenerates among them. Doctors say donors need to eat an iron-rich diet like they should eat fruits, meat and vegetables.
The hematologist said that any person below 18 years can’t donate blood as it is considered a crime. “In India, 65 is the upper age limit, the best age is 60, while in developed countries, the upper age limit for the donation is 75,” Khan says.
The senior hematologist suggested that every female in their reproductive age group which is between 15-45 years should take iron tablets at least seven to 10 days in a month and they will never develop anaemia.
Lt Governor’s message on World Blood Donor Day
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, in his message on World Blood Donor Day, expressed gratitude to the voluntary blood donors for their selfless service to humanity.
In a message, the Lt Governor said: We are truly grateful to the voluntary blood donors for their selfless service and saving precious lives. On this day, let us rededicate ourselves to help those needing blood and create awareness about safe blood, blood products and the importance of regular donation.
“The slogan for World Blood Donor Day, this year, is – Give Blood, Give Plasma, Share Life, Share Often. There is a need to create mass awareness and encourage more people, especially the youth to come forward and voluntarily donate blood to save lives,” the Lt Governor said.
