Ek Prayas puts blood donors’ database on line Website getting massive response from volunteers

Nitesh Sangral

Jammu, June 3: In an effort which could save lives of hundreds of people, Ek Prayas, an association of blood donors has launched a website www.ekprayas.org containing database of volunteers across the region. Though started just few days back, so far nearly 100 people have posted their details on the website and many more have shown their interest in supporting the cause. Initiative become a reality after Maheep Gupta, having confronted a distressing situation while arranging blood for one of his relatives who had an met accident, launched the website after consulting a number of Blood donors . “We had a dire need of blood (B-, a rare group) and unfortunately the hospital was not having any list of donors. All my efforts to look for such a database in other hospitals also turned futile as none of them has such data”, said Gupta. “This was the turning point and I decided to do something for the society”, he said. Voluntarily donation is still in nascent stage in Jammu and Kashmir, but in recent years, keeping in view the condition of the Government funded blood banks, a number of organisations and NGOs have taken initiative to create a databank, but putting it on the website is first initiative of its kind. Sharing his experience, Dr. Mehboob Ali Hydri, one of the member of the movement said, “I have met a number of people who are interested in donation, this site will provide them a platform”. It is pertinent to mention here that the organisation plans to create link with other donors in the country so that patients who move outside the state for treatment can find ready volunteers. “People have to face lot of problems in big hospitals as they have no contact out there, but the online list will help them”, said Maheep Gupta. “We have seen that people with contacts and influence manage to arrange blood through their own circle but in general, patients are unable to arrange the same and at times have to face harassment”, he said. If you want to become a donor * First Time Donors: 16 to 60 years of age. * Existing Donors: Up to 71 years of age. * Weight: You must be 50 kg or over. * You cannot donate if you have a cold, flu, sore throat, cold sore, stomach bug or any other infection. * If you have recently had a tattoo or body piercing you cannot donate for 6 months from the date of the procedure. * If you have visited the dentist for a minor procedure you must wait 24 hours before donating; for major work wait a month. * The donor would be given identity card containing full name, photograph, date of birth, home address, signature, donor ID/registration number and workplace.