As the world commemorated World Blood Donor Day yesterday, NT NETWORK takes a closer look at Goa’s community of doctors, donors, and volunteers who keep the flow smooth
ADITHI SHARMA | NT NETWORK
A modest hall filled with stretchers, refreshments, and reassuring volunteers in blue vests. This is how a routine blood donation camp looks like on the surface. But for the organisers and donors, it’s far from what’s visible. For them, every pint drawn is a promise of three lives restored. Indeed, while blood donation may be voluntary, for thousands across the state, it is the lifeblood of survival.
The web that binds
At the heart of Goa’s blood donation system is the Goa Medical College (GMC) Blood Centre, one of the oldest and most advanced centres in the region. It operates alongside two other government blood banks at Asilo Hospital in Mapusa and Hospicio Hospital in Margao, as well as private centres at Manipal Hospital in Dona Paula, and Victor Hospital in Margao.
In 2024 alone, the GMC Blood Centre collected 21,783 units of blood and conducted 355 camps across the state. And in the previous year, Goa ranked second among all Indian states in blood donation.
According to a senior doctor at GMC, the Centre’s infrastructure today includes 10 medical refrigerators each storing 350 packed red cell units, 11 deep freezers each storing approximately 300 fresh frozen plasma units, two walk-in cold storages each of which can store approximately 500 units of packed red cells units, and seven platelet agitators, each storing 24 Random Donor Platelets or 12 Single Donor Platelets. “We’ve moved from basic collection to full automation,” the doctor explains, citing the Chemiluminescence method by Abbott Architect Immunoassay Machine for screening and German imported ROTEM Sigma for emergency bleeding diagnostics. The doctor adds, “We also have a procedure wherein only platelets are collected from a single donor in a process called Plateletpheresis, using an Aphaeresis Machine, which are called ‘Single Donor Platelets’ (SDP).”
The Red Cross Society of Goa, chaired by Gaurish Dhond, plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between public and this medical infrastructure. “We organise 50–60 blood donation camps annually across urban and rural Goa,” says Dhond. “Our collaboration with GMC and district hospitals ensures that the flow of donated blood meets both emergency and routine needs.”
He adds that post-pandemic, the rise in voluntary donations has been promising but requires consistent campaigning. “Community engagement and myth-busting are critical to keeping donor numbers up.”
A system in motion
A typical blood donation in the state begins with registration and a health check—haemoglobin, blood pressure, recent medical history.
If the donor is healthy and weighs at least 55 kilograms, around 450 millilitres of blood is drawn. For donors weighing 45–55 kilograms, the draw is usually 350 millilitres. This constitutes one unit of whole blood, which is then separated into red cells, plasma, and platelets.
When asked how much and how often a person can donate blood, the doctor says, “A person cannot donate more than one unit of whole blood at a time. Males can donate every three months (90 days) and females can donate every four months (120 days) from the last date of whole blood donation.” There is also the option of Single Donor Platelet (SDP) donation, which takes longer but is critical in cases like dengue, cancer or surgery. It should be ensured that the eligibility gap between full blood and component donation is also respected. “Before donating SDP, a whole blood donor has to wait for at least a month (28 days). However, a SDP donor can donate SDP more than once a month, and a SDP donor has to wait for a week to be able to donate whole blood.”
Intriguingly, there are around 101 criteria to be evaluated for eligibility for a blood donor. These are laid down by National Blood Transfusion Council, Directorate General of Health Services and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India. The doctor notes a few of them being, “Person with no active illness of any kind, body weight of at least 45 kilograms, haemoglobin in the range of 12.5 to 18.5 g% (checked at blood centre), no past surgery/ blood transfusions, having had a good sleep and a meal at least four hours prior to blood donation.”
Collected blood is temporarily stored in ice-lined boxes at camps and transported within six hours to Blood Centre, GMC. There, it is processed, separated, and stored under strictly controlled conditions. Packed red blood cells (PRBC) is stored at 2-6°C in medical refrigerators with frequent monitoring and the shelf life ranges from 21 to 42 days from the date of collection. Random donor platelets and SDP is stored at 22-24°C in motion to prevent clumping with a shelf life of five days post collection while plasma is stored at −40°C to −80°C and can be used for a year from the date of collection.
But not all blood makes it to patients.
“Every unit undergoes screening for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and malaria, among other diseases,” explains the doctor. Some units may also be rejected due to shelf-life expiry, especially platelets, which last just five days, and therefore usually form the major part of the disposal.
Such blood products are sent to Disposal Unit of Goa Medical College after autoclaving (process of subjecting blood bag unit to high temperature and pressure to render it non-infective to handlers) wherein they are incinerated. “Reactive samples are immediately autoclaved and incinerated, and the donor is notified and counselled about the same and is referred to different referral OPDs for further treatment. However once screened reactive, the blood donor will not be able to donate blood again,” cautions the doctor.
Unused plasma is fractionated through partnerships with pharmaceutical firms to extract products like albumin, globulin, and coagulation factor concentrates like Factor VIII and IX for needy patients- often for thalassaemia patients and those in oncology. Unused PRBC is given to departments like the Department of Microbiology, GMC, for preparation of blood agar.
Donors behind the numbers
For the blood to reach storage, someone has to give. Every unit of blood utilised has to be replaced by another unit of the same type. That means a patient who requires blood or its components also has to arrange for a replacement. The way out is to get in contact with a donor who has a valid card of his previous donation. And Goa’s donor community is quietly heroic.
Sudesh Narvekar, a 51-year-old from Ponda has donated blood 125 times. He began at 18, after witnessing an accident victim in Sanvordem struggle to get blood, and later, a woman unable to find a donor for her daughter’s treatment. “These incidents changed something in me,” recalls Narvekar. “Since then, I’ve worked to ensure no one else faces such helplessness.”
Narvekar now leads the Sarthak Foundation, which organises over 100 camps a year in Goa and collaborates with NGOs and hospitals across India. “Youngsters are stepping up, but many from rural areas can’t reach GMC due to transport issues. If hospitals offered pick-up and drop facilities, we could double our donations,” he says.
Pranav Parrikar, one of Goa’s most frequent SDP donors, echoes the urgency. “Doctors at GMC sometimes call me directly when a patient matches my blood group,” he says. “During COVID-19, my plasma helped stabilise a patient. Another time, a heart surgery recipient came to thank me in tears. That’s when it really hits you—you’re part of someone’s second chance.”
For donor Sadika Buddaseth, the journey began with a free kachori at an NCC camp. “Now I donate twice a year,” she laughs. “Back then, I just wanted the snacks!” In her college days, she led 30 hesitant cadets to also donate, during their final camp. “It felt like leadership—encouraging others to overcome fear.”
John Aguiar, who began donating in 1980, used to mark his birthday each year with a donation. “Earlier, we used glass bottles. Now we have sterile PVC bags and better screening. I’ve seen a mindset shift—more people understand the importance now,” he says.
Still, one challenge remains: fears. “People worry about infection or weakness,” says Buddaseth. “We need to educate, especially in rural areas.”
Rotaract: The youth frontline
Among those working hard to dispel myths and engage young donors is the Rotaract Club of Panjim.
“Our flagship campaign, ‘Mahadan,’ just celebrated its 10th year,” says incoming president Dr Rashmika De Sa. “Alongside Mahadan, we host two–three smaller camps annually in collaboration with GMC, Manipal Hospital, the Red Cross, and NSS units.”
Their primary targets are students and working professionals. “We use social media and college outreach. During our last camp at GMC, 25 units were collected, many from first-time donors,” says Dr. De Sa.
Challenges do exist. “First-timers sometimes back out last minute. Others are found medically unfit. Weather and exam schedules also affect turnout,” she explains. “But we’ve seen many return donors, especially among students who feel a strong sense of social responsibility once they’ve donated.”
Looking ahead, Dr. De Sa envisions Rotaract playing a strategic role in sustainable donor mobilisation. “We want to work more closely with the government, push for policy changes, and promote a culture of regular, voluntary donation,” she says.
When blood runs short
Despite increasing participation, blood banks often face shortfalls, especially during monsoons and emergencies. The doctor at GMC notes that the highest demand comes from departments dealing with postpartum haemorrhage, trauma cases, dengue, oncology, thalassaemia, and liver disease.
Rare blood types like O-negative, AB-negative, and Bombay blood group are especially hard to maintain in stock. “Random Donor Platelets (RDPs) are also a challenge—they have a short shelf life and high seasonal demand,” says the doctor.
In times of shortage, the network kicks into overdrive. Donor lists are scanned, calls go out, and social media buzzes. But more often than not, only a small pool of regulars is depended upon; highlighting the need for a broader base.
The Red Cross agrees. “We offer certificates and tokens of appreciation,” says Dhond. “But ultimately, it’s about building a culture of service.”
A message that matters
And this year’s World Blood Donor Day theme, ‘Give Blood, Give Hope’, resonates deeply. “Your blood can save three lives,” says Parrikar. “It’s the least we can do.” Dr. De Sa adds, “Don’t wait for a reason—be the reason someone lives.”
