Childline has launched a scheme to reach out to children in distress at hospitals.
For any child under 18 years of age who requires blood, one can call 1098. Titled ‘One drop of blood for one child’, Childline will co-ordinate with various blood donors’ forums which will make donors available.
District Panchayat President Dolly Kuriakose inaugurated the scheme at a function held at St. Xavier’s Girls College to mark World Blood Donors Day on Friday. District Medical Officer N.K. Kuttappan was present.
District Panchayat Vice President Abdul Muthalib presided over the function. The event was organised by the District Medical Office with the support of the Aluva Blood Bank and St. Xavier’s College.
Raghu P. who have donated blood 26 times; Vinnie Martin and Abhish Vallabhan who have donated 19 times; Jishu Raj and Sheena Sebastian who have donated 10 times, and Gayathri P. and Simaria Williams who had donated blood four times were given special gifts by Aluva municipal chairperson Lissy Abraham.
Dr. N. Vijayakumar, who completed 25 years service in support of the blood bank and dialysis and haemophilia centres at the Aluva District Hospital, was honoured on the occasion. As many as 36 volunteers donated blood on the day. They included 29 students from St. Xavier’s College NSS unit and seven from Rajagiri College of Social Sciences.
Representatives of IMA (Central Kerala), Red Cross Society, NSS unit of St. Xavier’s College, principal of the college, and health standing committee chairperson of Aluva municipality were among those who were present.
