KU NSS unit embarkson a noble initiative

The National Service Scheme (NSS) unit in the University of Kerala has taken forward its initiative to identify donors with rare blood group among its volunteers.

The rare blood group donors’ forum, launched by the NSS unit in November last, has swelled to 240 members, with rare blood types, including AB negative and O negative. Conceived by NSS programme coordinator A. Shaji, who is also Assistant Professor of History at the School of Distance Education, the forum has attended to around 45 cases within a short span of its existence. “While NSS units organise blood donation camps every year, we realised the need to identify donors for the purpose of making available rare blood groups,” Dr. Shaji said.

The donor database was created after Dr. Shaji contacted the NSS programme officers at 108 affiliated colleges in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha. The varsity NSS unit has a strength of 16,400 volunteers spread across 164 units. Those with rare blood groups were identified through blood group identification camps, following which the consent of the students as well as their guardians was obtained.

Dr. Shaji said some of those who had been identified showed reluctance in signing up for the endeavour owing to various apprehensions. He said the forum maintained a centralised process wherein he verifies the authenticity of the blood requirements and alerts donors, having the particular blood group type and are nearest to the hospital. A WhatsApp group of the programme officers is also maintained. They have been able to cater to demands mostly from the government medical colleges in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha, and the RCC. The NSS unit recently handed over consent letters of 25,000 students and varsity alumni members for organ donation to Health Minister K.K. Shylaja.