Punjab state awardee Social Welfare Organisation to dedicate annual blood donation camp to women

The Social Welfare Organisation (SWO) has emerged as a pioneer in the social work sector on account of its medical initiatives. A recipient of the state award in social service, the organisation is leading by example by setting up blood donation and check-up camps.

Patron Tarsem Garg said the organisation will dedicate its 19th blood donation camp to women on March 8, International Women’s Day, . “Besides dedicating the event to women, we have decided to transform the theme ‘Give to Gain’ by ensuring gender equality in sharing of responsibility and privileges,” said Garg.

After receiving recognition for putting together the largest annual voluntary blood donation camp, the organisation is now roping in other service organisations to sustain its operations and events. Moreover, SWO is contributing to human welfare events being held in the region by other social groups.

Leading a team of 28 members, SWO president Dr Sunit Hind said they had till date organised 18 camps to collect over 25,000 units of blood for a dozen blood banks lacted in both government and private healthcare centers of the Ludhiana and Malerkotla districts.

The organisation was recognised with the State Award in 2017, during the tenure of then Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. Though the organisation of voluntary donation camps has remained a hallmark of SWO for two decades, the outfit has started providing round the clock mortuary service supported by portable and stationed deep freezers

For the last decade, volunteers of the outfit, including medical officers and healthcare workers, have been holding free medical camps and providing ambulance facilities at the annual Mela Chhapar. Dr Rajinder Mittal, chairman, claimed that blood collected during camps had been instrumental in saving lives of many, including accident victims, persons undergoing surgeries and thalassemia patients during difficult times such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contrary to common belief that blood donation camps only help in making the vital fluid available to patients, the systematic analysis of test reports of samples of blood received from donors have facilitated early and timely detection of dreaded diseases like AIDS and Hepatitis. “There were instances when some donors were found to be positive for certain pathogens and dreaded viruses. Instead of creating panic, we contacted their families and advised them to get the donor examined by experts of the ailments,” said Dr Mittal.