Divakar N. Kharvi (42), who was instrumental in getting Gangolli village declared as a ‘blood donors village’ in 2010, is now planning to launch a campaign to have blood donors in all villages in Udupi district.
Mr. Kharvi, who founded the Karavali Voluntary Blood Donors Association in 2011, has held 80 blood donation camps with other associations since 2006 in the district. Thanks to his efforts, Gangolli village has about 700 blood donors. He himself has donated blood 62 times.
Mr. Kharvi, who works as a supervisor in the Department of Fisheries in Kundapur, told The Hindu here on Tuesday that he would seek the help of the District Health and Family Welfare Officer Rohini, district surgeon Mahendra, blood bank officer at district government hospital Veena Kumari and pathologist J. Sharatkumar Rao to draw up a plan to reach all the villages.
“It may take about a fortnight to draw up a plan and begin the campaign,” he said.
Campaign
The plan would focus on involving local voluntary organisations and youth associations at the village level. The campaign at the village level would focus on encouraging the people, especially the youth, to donate blood. The association would print pamphlets to be distributed to all houses in the villages.
“We will draw up a list of blood donors in every village. Once we have details of the blood donors, we will be able to contact them during the emergencies. Our whole intention is aimed at making Udupi a ‘Blood Donors District’,” he said.
The entire exercise is expected to last about three months. Holding voluntary blood donations at the rural level is also part of the this plan.
At the end of the three months, the association with the help of the government and other organisations, aimes at holding a voluntary blood donation camp in Udupi and other places in the district.
“We want this blood to made available not just for blood banks in Udupi, but also Mangaluru, Shivamogga, Bengaluru, Mysuru and other places,” he said.
The KVBDA has about 200 members from Gangolli, Gujjady, and Trasi villages. Besides holding blood donation camps, it also participates in disaster management operations. “Our members and volunteers donate blood to patients during emergencies in Kundapur, Bhatkal, Udupi and also Mangaluru,” Mr. Kharvi added.
