Blood philanthropy: Amdavadis give blood every 2 mins, organise camp every 2 hours!
SLUG: WORLD RED CROSS DAYAhmedabad: In the season of T20, the city takes pride in its unique Two2. While Amdavadis may bear jokes about being pinchpennies, there is one area where the city leads the world in giving, and that is blood donation.Mukesh Patel, chairman emeritus of the Ahmedabad branch of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), says that on average, one Amdavadi donates blood every two minutes, and one blood donation camp is organised every two hours, making it a Two2 combination.As May 8 is celebrated as World Red Cross Day, Patel said that the city can take pride in its blood philanthropy. "The city has 138 centurion blood donors who have donated blood or blood components more than 100 times. No other city in the world is on record to have reached even close to this figure. We also have all five women centurion blood donors of India, three double centurions, India's first blood donor centurion couple, and the first blood donor centurion with disabilities," said Patel.Patel, who donated blood 151 times, is the recipient of this year's President of India's Red Cross Gold Medal for his contribution to voluntary blood donation and the launch of the Thalassemia Care, Awareness & Prevention (CAP) Mission of the Red Cross. The mission caters completely free to the lifesaving transfusion needs of more than 1,200 children suffering from this blood disorder. May 8 is also celebrated as Thalassemia Day.The city's IRCS boasts mascots Sherdil and Caredil and initiatives such as blood-o-pedia, thalas-e-media, and Jeevan Utsav. Shatabdi Bhavan in the city is now one of India's largest blood centres. IRCS officials said that the lionhearted Amdavadis ensure that children with thalassemia are never out of blood for transfusion, and it is one of the reasons that many are now leading normal lives.Head: Blood donation in numbers4%: Ahmedabad's blood donor to population (BDP) ratio, against 1% for India and global ratio of 1.5%2.5L: City's annual blood collection5k: Number of blood donation camps in city1963: First blood bank came up in Civil Hospital campus56.6L: Units of blood donated in 60 years2.45L: Blood units collected in 2023, one of the highest
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Inquiry committee submits report on VS illegal trials to Ahmedabad municipal commissioner
Ahmedabad: A five-member AMC committee completed its investigation into the alleged illegal clinical trials at VS Hospital and submitted a report, implicating top doctors in a multi-crore scam. Between 2021 and 2025, 58 unauthorized trials were conducted on over 500 patients in complete violation of rules, with payments from pharmaceutical companies routed to the accounts of senior doctors, instead of the hospital, said sources citing the report. The panel, led by the head of the AMC vigilance department, has reportedly recommended disciplinary action against all responsible parties. The municipal commissioner is now reviewing the report to decide whether a police complaint should be filed. Sources citing the inquiry report, which includes a 30-page summary and 500 pages of annexures, said that the key accused include then superintendent Dr Manish Patel, clinical head Dr Devang Rana, and contract doctor Dhaivat Shukla. "The trio allegedly siphoned off between Rs 17 crore to Rs 20 crore from pharmaceutical companies into their personal and family accounts. In some cases, money was also deposited into the accounts of unrelated individuals," revealed a source close to the development. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo The scam came to light after Rajshree Kesari, a Congress councillor from Chandkheda, filed a complaint, alleging that doctors were conducting illegal trials and depositing the money into private bank accounts. After conducting a preliminary investigation, the municipal commissioner then formed a special five-member inquiry panel on April 19. However, after questions were raised about one panel member's credibility, AMC's in-charge health officer Dr Bhavin Solanki was included in the committee. The probe was overseen by Hina Bhathawala, AMC's vigilance department chief. Earlier, eight doctors, including Dr Rana, were suspended, and a notice was served to the retired hospital superintendent. The committee also recorded statements from Dr Patel, Dr Rana, and other implicated personnel. A source, citing the inquiry report, said, "Over four years, 58 pharmaceutical companies conducted various unregulated vaccine and drug clinical research on more than 500 patients. The companies legally paid Rs 17 to 20 crore, none of which reached the hospital's official accounts. Instead, they were deposited into accounts belonging to Dr Patel, Dr Rana, Dr Shukla, their spouses, and even family HUF accounts. Some payments were allegedly made in cash. "The clinical trials were allegedly conducted using the approval of a private ethical committee instead of seeking clearance from the AMC, the hospital's management board, or the Medical Education Trust." Documents pertaining to these trials were either poorly maintained or deliberately concealed, said sources, drawing from the report. Despite a claim from Dr Patel that Rs 6 crore was deposited into the hospital account, the committee found no supporting documentation.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
CISCE students shine at National Yoga Olympiad 2025 with 20 medals, set to join yoga session with Prime Minister Modi
CISCE Gold medallists to join PM Modi's yoga session on International Yoga Day NEW DELHI: Students from schools affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) have achieved remarkable success at the NCERT National Yoga Olympiad 2025, held in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu. The students secured a total of 20 medals — 10 Gold, 6 Silver and 4 Bronze — across both team and individual events, showcasing their dedication, talent and commitment to holistic education. In a significant recognition of their achievement, the Gold Medal winners from CISCE schools have been selected to participate in a special yoga session with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on the occasion of International Yoga Day 2025, to be observed on June 21, 2025. The opportunity marks a moment of pride for the students and reflects the national importance given to yoga and wellness education. An event that celebrates national heritage and wellness The National Yoga Olympiad 2025 was conducted from June 15 to 18, 2025, at the Sabhagriham Vivekananda Kendra in Kanyakumari. It was organised by the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, Government of India, in collaboration with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The event was graced by Professor Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Director, NCERT, who attended as the Chief Guest. Introduced in 2016, the Olympiad is a flagship initiative by NCERT to promote the integration of yoga in school education. It encourages students to understand yoga not just as physical exercise but as a discipline that supports emotional, mental and spiritual growth, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Team excellence across age categories In the Secondary Stage (14–17 years), CISCE teams performed exceptionally in the team events. The Girls' Team, comprising Naisha Sarkar (Sacred Heart Convent School, Jamshedpur), Manya Sharma and Namya Sharma (St. Stephen's School, Chandigarh), and Anisha Kadam (Wisdom World School, Pune), won the Gold Medal. The Boys' Team, with Aadi Karmakar (St. Augustine's School, Kolkata), Sounava Hazra (Calcutta Public School, Kolkata), Nihal (St. Stephen's School, Chandigarh), and Priyanshu Mandal (Holy Cross School, Kolkata), also secured Gold. In the Middle Stage (10–14 years), the Girls' Team of Aditri De and Anaanya Sengupta (The Heritage School, Kolkata), Savera (St. Stephen's School, Chandigarh), and Devanshi Shinde (Tree House High School, Pune) earned a Silver Medal. Individual brilliance in performance and creativity CISCE students also shone in individual competitions. Gold Medals were won by Aadi Karmakar for Yoga Performance (Boys 14–17 years) and Sounava Hazra for Essay Writing (Boys 14–17 years). Silver Medals were awarded to Naisha Sarkar for Yoga Performance and Namya Sharma for Poetry (Girls 14–17 years). Bronze Medals went to Sounava Hazra and Namya Sharma for Yoga Performance, Priyanshu Mandal for Poetry, and Devanshi Naresh Shinde for Poster Making. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
NDTV
2 days ago
- NDTV
"Donor Not Required": Inside Madhya Pradesh's Blood Black Market
Bhopal: In a city where hospitals are built to heal and comfort, NDTV's Operation Blood reveals a disturbing truth - a thriving black market for blood, operating openly across government and private hospitals, cancer centres, and even India's top medical institution, AIIMS Bhopal. The sting, conducted over several weeks, uncovered how patients are forced into negotiations, backdoor deals, and illegal payments just to access something as basic - and life-saving - as a unit of blood. The investigation began at Hamidia Hospital, where blood was being sold in the name of "arrangements." No medical prescription, no scrutiny - just cash. At Jai Prakash Hospital, the transaction began even before entering the premises. In the parking lot, staff and auto drivers were well aware of where blood could be sourced - Red Cross or brokers. One parking attendant said it bluntly: "Inside, they ask for donors. Outside, they ask for money." Numbers were exchanged. Promises were made. But this wasn't a humanitarian gesture - it was part of an organised, informal network. At Jawaharlal Nehru Cancer Hospital, where patients battle terminal illnesses, blood was treated not as a necessity but as a commodity. A broker offered O-negative blood for Rs 4,050. "Donor charge is Rs 3,000, cross-matching Rs 1,050," he said, unapologetically. The deal was ready, and delivery could be arranged at Hamidia, Red Cross, or anywhere else. At Navodaya Cancer Hospital, which had earlier been linked to suspicious supply chains, the price list was just as clear: "Red Cross will give it for Rs 3,000. Maybe Rs 2,500 if you go direct," one staff member said. Whether inside the ward or outside the gate, life depended not on blood type but on bargaining skills. AIIMS, or the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, is often considered the last hope for many patients. But at AIIMS Bhopal, the investigation uncovered a blood market right outside its gates, where brokers, donors, and ambulance drivers operated openly. At a pan shop nearby, Raj and Vinod, both part of this illicit network, offered blood for Rs 2,000 - Rs 2,500; no questions asked, no ID, no verification. "Say I'm your uncle. I've done this before," one donor casually said. Ambulance drivers, meant to save lives, acted as middlemen: "You'll get it for money. I'll connect you," one driver said before passing on contact details of Bhupendra, a broker who quoted Rs 3,500 per unit. Outside one of India's most prestigious hospitals, blood was available faster than an ambulance - if you could pay. If hospitals weren't selling directly, private blood banks across the city were no better - from New Bhopal Blood Bank to Manas and Lifeline, the pattern was the same. At New Bhopal Blood Bank: "Donor? Not required. Just pay Rs 2,500." At Manas Blood Bank: "Rs 2,500 if no donor. We can't reduce the rate." At Lifeline Blood Bank, once the team asked for a discount, the worker, after a quick chat with the owner inside, responded, "Sir said no." In one case, even when our undercover team pretended to be hepatitis-positive, they were still offered blood - just pay Rs 2,500. The sting operation found that no patient's name, condition, or emergency mattered. All that mattered was the price. No receipt. No proper donor check. No registration. Just a fixed rate and a whispered transaction. What was supposed to be a regulated, humanitarian process had turned into a commercial chain, run by guards, drivers, brokers, and unbothered staff. NDTV's Operation Blood doesn't just expose a few rogue players, but rips the curtain off a systemic, deeply entrenched corruption where human blood, meant to be donated selflessly, is sold like a grocery item.
