A tax expert's journey to saving lives

Ahmedabad: The presidential honour for Mukesh Patel recognises his role in establishing the Ahmedabad Red Cross Shatabdi Bhavan , acknowledged as India's largest blood centre with state-of-the art facilities. He has spearheaded the Thalassemia Care, Awareness & Prevention (CAP) Mission since 1983, providing free life-saving transfusions to over 1,200 children suffering from blood disorder.Asked about his inspiration behind championing voluntary blood donation and thalassemia care, Patel told TOI, "Blood donation is the only gift that costs nothing to the donor but means a whole world to someone in need. You do not have to be a doctor to save a life, just donate blood."Ahmedabad has earned recognition as the blood donation capital of India and global hub of centurion blood donors under Patel's leadership. The city boasts 138 centurion blood donors, including all five of India's women centurions, three double centurions, India's first centurion couple and first differently abled centurion.As an international tax expert by profession, Patel has donated blood in 25 countries worldwide. "My globetrotting gave me ample opportunities to visit leading blood banks around the world, donate blood, study their blood donation promotion, interact with experts and in the process nurture innovative ideas and strategies for fruitful implementation," he said.Patel's innovative approaches include "instilling the feeling of pride and participation through blood donor recognition, setting up of diverse activity hubs and clubs, launch of our imaginative mascots Sherdil and Caredil, motivational songs on Raktdaan and showcasing the creative Blood-o-pedia, Thalas-e-media and Jeevan Utsav".

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

United News of India

5 hours ago

• United News of India

Hyd: Thousands of disabled persons participate in yoga at Kanha Shanti Vanam

States » South Hyderabad, June 21 (UNI) Over 3,500 persons with disabilities performed yoga and shared their valuable thoughts on yoga at the 11th International Yoga Day celebrations held at the world's largest meditation centre at Kanha Shanti Vana, the headquarters of Heartfulness, on outskirts of Hyderabad, on Saturday. The event was organized by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MSJ&E), in association with Heartfulness and NIEPID (National Institute of Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities) by inviting Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) from across the country cutting across various disabilities. Chief guest Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr Virendra Kumar graced the occasion. Public representatives from the State of Telangana and officials from the DEPwD, MSJ&E, were also present. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Virendra said, 'It is very inspiring to watch the huge numbers of 'divyangjans' showing what resilience, determination and true inner spirit can achieve in the world. In unison, they are outshining the world because they have seen the light within. As a land of mystics, the gift of yoga to the world is not merely for physical wellbeing. It is a tool for holistic wellness – mental, emotional and spiritual as well. Over a decade now since International Yoga Day has been recognised by the United Nations, may India continue to inspire the world with its ancient wisdom for millennia to come.' More than 3,500 Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjans) from 21 categories such as visual impairment, hearing impairment, locomotors disability, intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, Thalassemia, leprosy, dwarfism, low vision, multiple disability, mental illness, muscular dystrophy, speech & language, sickle cell disease, acid attack victim, specific learning disability, multiple sclerosis, haemophilia & Perkinson's disease showcased their inner strength and resilience by performing yoga at Kanha Wellness Centre at Kanha Shanti Vanam. The event is followed by cultural programmes (performed by the Divyangjans) display of publications, art gallery, free distribution of machinery by DEPwD to parents of PwIDs, donation of block-printing material to RCs and CRCs, parent training programme, and more. UNI KNR SS

Business Standard

10 hours ago

• Business Standard

ICMR-NIIH launches India's first national rare blood donor registry

In a first, the National Institute of Immunohaematology (NIIH) in Mumbai, operating under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has launched a national registry for rare blood donors. This initiative aims to help patients with uncommon blood types — especially those with conditions like thalassemia and sickle cell disease — who often need repeated blood transfusions. Dr Manisha Madkaikar, Director of the ICMR-Centre for Research Management and Control of Haemoglobinopathies (CRHCM) in Nagpur, told PTI that the ICMR-NIIH is currently in discussions with the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) to link this rare donor registry with *e-Raktakosh*, the government's existing blood availability portal. This integration will make it easier for people with rare blood groups to locate matching donors and blood banks, while also helping blood banks manage their donor records and supplies more efficiently. High demand for blood in India According to the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), India has over 4,000 licensed blood banks for its population of more than 142 crore. Dr Madkaikar pointed out that India has a significant need for blood transfusions due to a higher occurrence of blood disorders and pregnancy-related complications. 'Thalassemia itself contributes to 100,000 to 150,000 patients who require recurrent transfusions,' she said. She also highlighted the large-scale need for blood due to accidents and medical procedures. 'With more than 1,200 road accidents occurring every day in India, and with every year 60 million surgeries, 240 million major operations, 331 million cancer-related procedures, and 10 million pregnancy complications, a serious call for blood transfusion is recognised,' she added. Why minor blood group antigens matter? Most blood banks in India only match ABO and RhD antigens when issuing red blood cell components. But the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) has recognised over 360 antigens across 47 blood group systems. These lesser-known antigens are not routinely tested in India, Dr Madkaikar said. 'As a result, a mismatch of minor antigens between donor and patient blood group (BG) profiles can lead to red cell alloimmunisation (1–3 per cent in the general population, 8–18 per cent in thalassaemic patients). About 25 per cent of all immunised patients have been reported to receive unsatisfactory transfusion support due to presence of multiple antibodies or antibodies to high frequency antigens (HFA),' she explained. What counts as a rare blood group? Rare blood groups are typically those that lack high frequency antigens (seen in 1 in 1,000 people or less), are negative for common antigen combinations, or show a null phenotype. 'Meeting a demand for rare blood supply is challenging and time consuming for such patients. The need of a patient for rare blood can be the start of a series of events that may extend beyond the local blood centre and become a national or even an international search,' Dr Madkaikar said. To address this, a well-maintained database of rare and extensively typed blood donors is essential. Dr Madkaikar noted that 27 countries already have national rare donor registries. Until recently, India was not one of them. Earlier in 2019, ICMR-NIIH received approval for a Centre of Excellence project aimed at screening 4,000 regular 'O' group blood donors from four regions of India. This was done using advanced molecular techniques in partnership with major hospitals — KEM Hospital in Mumbai, PGIMER Chandigarh, MCH Kolkata, and JIPMER Puducherry. 'More than 600 donors negative for combination of antigens were identified along with 250 very rare blood group donors. The registry also includes 170 Bombay blood group donors, which is the commonly required rare blood type in India (approx 120–150 units/year). To access this inventory (ICMR-Rare Donor Registry of India (RDRI)), a web-based portal has been developed for systematic requisition and provision of blood to patients on time,' Dr Madkaikar said. She added, 'There is a plan to integrate this rare donor registry with e-Raktakosh of DGHS so that all the blood banks can contribute their rare donors and help in expansion of the registry. Last month we held a meeting with the DGHS.' India's first diabetes biobank In another landmark step last year, ICMR had established the country's first diabetes biobank in Chennai, in collaboration with the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF). This facility collects, processes, and stores biological samples to support scientific research into diabetes and related disorders. The biobank aims to enhance understanding of the Indian forms of diabetes and contributes to ongoing studies, with appropriate permissions from ICMR.

The Print

11 hours ago

• The Print

ICMR prepares India's first national rare blood donor registry

The integration will help people with rare blood groups easily trace blood banks and procure blood. It will also assist the blood banks manage their stock and donors through a centralised system. The ICMR-NIIH is now in talks with the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) so that the rare donor registry portal can be integrated with e-Raktakosh, a platform which currently provides information about blood availability, Dr Manisha Madkaikar, Director of ICMR-Centre for Research Management and Control of Haemoglobinopathies (CRHCM) in Nagpur said. New Delhi, Jun 21 (PTI) The National Institute of Immunohaematology in Mumbai under the India Council of Medical Research has for the first time created a national 'rare blood donor registry' for patients with rare and uncommon blood types who need frequent transfusion especially in conditions such as thalassemia and sickle cell disease. India, with a population of more than 142 crore, has over 4,000 licensed blood banks, according to the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). India relies heavily on transfusions due to a higher prevalence of blood diseases and complications during pregnancy, Dr Madkaikar said. 'Thalassemia itself contributes to 1 to 1.5 lakh patients who require recurrent transfusions,' she said. Additionally, with more than 1,200 road accidents occurring every day in India, and with every year 60 million surgeries, 240 million major operations, 331 million cancer-related procedures, and 10 million pregnancy complications, a serious call for blood transfusion is recognised, she said. In majority of blood banks in India, only ABO and RhD are antigens matched prior to cross-matching for issuing of red blood cell components. However, the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) has recognised more than 360 antigens in 47 blood group systems. Blood banks do not perform testing of these minor blood group antigens routinely, explained Dr Madkaikar. 'As a result, a mismatch of minor antigens between donor and patient blood group (BG) profiles can lead to red cell alloimmunization (1-3 per cent in the general population, 8-18 per cent in thalassaemic patients). About 25 per cent of all immunized patients have been reported to receive unsatisfactory transfusion support due to presence of multiple antibodies or antibodies to high frequency antigens (HFA),' she said. Rare blood groups are those which lack HFA (1:1000 or less), or are negative for a combination of common antigens, or have a null phenotype. 'Meeting a demand for rare blood supply is challenging and time consuming for such patients. The need of a patient for rare blood can be the start of a series of events that may extend beyond the local blood centre and become a national or even an international search,' Dr Madkaikar said. To overcome this challenge, an inventory of extensively typed blood donors and rare blood type donors is required, she said. For this, internationally 27 countries have operational national rare donor registry programmes. India, however, is not a contributor country, she said. In 2019, however, ICMR-NIIH was granted Centre of Excellence project under the aegis of ICMR, where an initiative was taken to screen 4,000 'O' group regular blood donors for all clinically important antigens using high throughput molecular assays, from four different regions of India in collaboration with the big blood banks from KEM Hospital Mumbai, PGIMER Chandigarh, MCH Kolkatta and JIPMER Puducherry. 'More than 600 donors negative for combination of antigens were identified along with 250 very rare blood group donors. The registry also includes 170 Bombay blood group donors, which is the commonly required rare blood type in India (approx 120-150 units/year). To access this inventory (ICMR-Rare Donor Registry of India (RDRI)), a web-based portal has been developed for systematic requisition and provision of blood to patients on time,' Dr Madkaikar said. 'There is a plan to integrate this rare donor registry with e-Raktakosh of DGHS so that all the blood banks can contribute their rare donors and help in expansion of the registry. Last month we held a meeting with the DGHS,' she said. PTI PLB ZMN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.