A mother’s tears can’t save her child, but your blood can: Vikrant Dogra

TNN Bureau. Updated: 7/30/2016 4:02:27 PM This Person: Then and Now

Born and brought up in a deeply religious family, the Vice-President of the Federation of Indian Blood Donors Organization, Vikrant Dogra, always believed in the philosophy of “Service to the mankind is devotion to God”.

He was introduced to blood donation at the age of 18 years and by now; Vikrant has donated blood more than 60 times. Presently serving as the vice-president of the Federation of Indian Blood Donors’ Organization, his life has been a message in itself.

Here are the excerpts of the interview:

TNN: How and when did you started?

Vikrant: I donated blood for the first time in the year 1996. I was 18 years old then. Since I belong to a Nirankari family, I was brought up with this belief that I am a part of world’s biggest blood donation mission. And that’s how it started.

TNN: Who can and cannot be a part of blood donation camp?

Vikrant: Any healthy adult with a clean medical history between 18 years and 60 years of age, weighing more than 45 kg can donate blood. The person must have a haemoglobin count of 12.5 g/dl and the blood pressure should be minimum 110/70 mmHg and maximum 180/100 mmHg.

People who have tested positive for Hepatitis B & C or HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, malignancy (cancer), drug abuse and who have taken growth hormone injections are permanently disqualified from donating blood.

TNN: How has technology helped blood banking?

Vikrant: Advanced technology has helped faster connectivity in procuring information about the availability of blood in emergencies. Online registration also facilitates more blood donations. Technology has also helped improve methods of screening and storing blood.



TNN: Why there is no centralised information centre in India which tells us which blood bank has what stock, so that in an emergency this information can be used to procure blood and save time?

Vikrant: A centralised information database is still a pipe dream because there is unfortunately no unity among those involved in dealing with blood transfusion services. It is an issue of serious concern that even non governmental agencies (NGOs) are reluctant to join hands in terms of standards, tests and technologies and sharing information on one platform.

TNN: What challenges do you face while organising blood camps?

Vikrant: Making people donate blood willfully is very hard. Here in Jammu, one is willing to help someone only if there is some kind of bond between them. Motivating people, especially those over 30 years of age, for coming to blood donation camps and voluntarily donate blood without knowing who will receive their blood is the biggest challenge.

TNN: What four things do you always advise to a new donor?

Vikrant: Maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat healthy as much as you can.

Take lots of fluid, a banana and an apple in next 24 hours to rebuild the donated blood.

Get a regular haemoglobin check.

And last but not the least, become a regular donor.


Comment on this Story