Two major events mark the end of a Rotary year for Global Network for Blood Donation, a Rotarian Action Group (GNBD): The annual convention of Rotary International and the World Blood Donor Day.
We use RI's largest yearly gathering to promote amongst Rotarians from all parts of the world the life-saving endeavor of non-remunerated blood donation, and we support the World Blood Donor Day, June 14, in recognizing those who donate blood.
Our participation at the RI convention in New Orleans, USA, in May 2011 was our fifth convention appearance since our start in 2007 as a Rotarian Action Group. In New Orleans, GNBD hosted an exhibition booth in the House of Friendship and a symposium on non-remunerated blood donation.
Two of the blood donation networks under the umbrella of GNBD have leapt overseas again: The Governors' Challenge Blood Drive (GCBD), started in Fort Worth, Texas in 1995, is being established in India, and the French network My Blood For Others (MSPLA), started in Toulouse in 1998, has moved into Cambodia.
Prior to the convention, we had the pleasure of receiving active support from Rotary International's new president, Kalyan Banerjee, in our efforts to widen Rotary's involvement in voluntary blood donation around the world.
The new RI President has sent a letter to the District Governors 2011-12 in India urging them to rally behind a nationwide effort to organize blood drives, or camps as they are called in India, on a regular basis within all 32 Indian Rotary Districts (see the letter below).
The program will be modeled after the Governors' Challenge Blood Drive - as a challenge among participating clubs and districts. It will 'function under the guidance' of two Rotary International Directors, Yash Das and Shekhar Mehta, and GNBD President P.T. Prabhakar will serve as the program's National Chair.
The Governors' Challenge encourages Rotary clubs to support their own community blood centers through volunteer donations while sharing their ideas with the world.
"By undertaking this project, you will be saving thousands of lives and helping needy accident victims, cancer patients, mothers, babies and several others. The entire program has my support. Let us together Reach within to Embrace Humanity, Kalyan Banerjee writes in his letter to the District Governor 2011-12.
"Though many Indian Rotary clubs for years have organized individual blood camps, and a number of clubs have started local blood banks, the GNBD move represents a major attempt in organizing voluntary blood donation on a nationwide scale in one of the world's most populated countries," GNBD President P.T. Prabhakar says. India has 3000 Rotary clubs with 100,000 members out of a population of more than 1.2 billion people.
The other major event on the GNBD calendar, the World Blood Donor Day, June 14, is organized by four international health organizations. For 2011, the World Health Organization, WHO, has ranked Rotary International among the World Blood Donor Day's 'collaborating partners'.
GNBD supports the World Blood Donor Day and urges Rotarians and Rotaractors to ask their club to join the celebration during the week of June 14 (or another week) and recognize those who donate blood. The World Blood Donor Day's theme this year is 'More blood, more life'.
"Though many Indian Rotary clubs for years have organized individual blood camps, and a number of clubs have started local blood banks, the GNBD move represents a major attempt in organizing voluntary blood donation on a nationwide scale in one of the world's most populated countries," GNBD President P.T. Prabhakar says. India has 3000 Rotary clubs with 100,000 members out of a population of more than 1.2 billion people.
The other major event on the GNBD calendar, the World Blood Donor Day, June 14, is organized by four international health organizations. For 2011, the World Health Organization, WHO, has ranked Rotary International among the World Blood Donor Day's 'collaborating partners'.
GNBD supports the World Blood Donor Day and urges Rotarians and Rotaractors to ask their club to join the celebration during the week of June 14 (or another week) and recognize those who donate blood. The World Blood Donor Day's theme this year is 'More blood, more life'.
Welcome to the new Rotary year, 2011-12.
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The full text of Kalyan Banerjee's letter to the incoming district governors of India:
Posted May 19, 2011 _______________________________________________ To the 2011-2012 District Governors in India: Voluntary blood donation is perhaps the best way to obtain safe blood by Blood Banks and hospitals. There is a major gap between the demand and supply for blood and blood components in India. Against an annual demand of 20 million units only 15 million units are available. Rotary in India can play a major role in bridging this gap. While there are several Blood Banks that are run by Rotary Clubs in communities throughout India, there remains a need for greater emphasis in promoting voluntary blood donations. Global Network for Blood Donation (GNBD) is an approved Rotary Action group, founded in 2006 by PDG Charles Kurtzman, from Texas, U.S.A., and has over 1100 Rotarians as members, from around the Rotary world. Its purpose is to promote voluntary blood donation by Rotarians, Rotaractors and the general public. Through its very successful model, The Rotary Governors' Challenge Blood Drive, it promotes friendly challenges amongst the Rotary Clubs within a District and challenges between Rotary Districts. Taking example from Global Network for Blood Donation, I suggest that Districts in India adopt their model and institute similar recognitions for Districts that excel and are able to document the number of voluntary blood donors as well as the number of units collected through their respective efforts. For the Rotary year 2011-12, GNBD proposes to introduce Rotary Governors' Challenge Blood Drives, amongst the Rotary Districts in Zones 4-5 and 6. PDG P.T. Prabhakar, who currently serves as the President of Global Network for Blood Donation Action Group, is very knowledgeable and experienced, and will serve as the National Chair for this program in India. He will share more details with you as to how District Governors in India can participate in this challenge. By undertaking this project, you will be saving thousands of lives and helping needy accident victims, cancer patients, mothers, babies and several others. Special recognition will be given to District Governors and clubs that are actively associated with this program. The entire program has my support and will function under the guidance of the two R.I. Directors, Yash Das and Shekhar Mehta. By participating in this challenge you will be serving a much needed humanitariancause. Let us together Reach Within to Embrace Humanity. Kalyan Banerjee RI President 2011-2012 _____________________________________ |