Mangaluru: A blood donation and health awareness camp was organised by the Catholic Sabha Mangaluru Pradesh, Derebail unit in association with Yuva Spandan Derebail, Derebail Parish Sports Club, Lions Club of Mangaluru Ladyhill and Rotaract club of Mangaluru City at Derebail Church Hall on Sunday, March 21.
The camp was blessed and inaugurated by Rev. Fr. Austin Peris, Parish Priest, Most Holy Redeemer Church, Derebail at 9 am in the morning. Anil Patrao, President, Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, Derebail unit, Sheela D’Souza, Vice President, Parish Pastoral Council, Derebail Church and Nelson Castelino, Community Development Convener of Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, Derebail unit and Convener of the programme were present, among others.
The public responded positively to this drive and a total of 76 units of blood was collected by the staff of the Blood Bank of Wenlock District Hospital under the guidance of Dr Sharath Rao J, Senior Consultant & HOD, Department of Immunohematology & Transfusion Medicine, Regional Blood Transfusion Centre at Wenlock Hospital.
The Health Awareness programme was inaugurated at 10.30 AM by lighting the lamp. The dignitaries present were Rev. Fr. Austin Peris, Parish Priest, Sheela D’Souza, Vice President, Parish Pastoral Council, Gaulbert Pais, Secretary, PPC, Most Holy Redeemer Church, Anil Patrao, President, Dora D’Cunha, Secretary, Nelson Castelino, Community Development Convener, Catholic Sabha Mangaluru Pradesh , Derebail unit, Dr Sharath Rao J, Senior Consultant & HOD, Department of Immunohematology & Transfusion Medicine, Regional Blood Transfusion centre, Dr Sharath Babu, MD, Pulmonary Medicine, Medical Officer and Member of District Level Expert Committee on COVID 19, Wenlock District Hospital, Lydia D’Costa, representative of Lions Club of Mangaluru Ladyhill, Darryl D’Souza, President, Rotaract Club of Mangaluru City, Mr. Prajwal Sequeira, President, Yuva Spandan Derebail, Sandesh Mascarenhas, President, Derebail Parish Sports Club.
Anil Patrao, President, Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, Derebail unit welcomed the gathering. He explained the mission of Catholic Sabha of creating awareness in the society, be it social, political, educational, human rights, civic responsibilities, environment and health, among others.
Rev Fr Austin Peris, Parish Priest, Most Holy Redeemer Church delivered the inaugural address. In his address, Rev Fr Peris stated that wise people say, many spend the first half of their life span in amassing wealth at the cost of their health, and, in the second half, the wealth they earned is spent on regaining the lost health. Hence, health should be taken care of from the beginning. “As the Latin saying goes “Mens sana in corpore sano” meaning healthy mind in a healthy body, the mental attitudes and a clean conscience are important for a healthy lifestyle because many sicknesses are rooted in the mind,” he said.
Dr Sharath Rao J gave a talk on the importance of blood donation and the health benefits to the individual arising out of regular blood donation.
Dr Sharath Babu gave a talk on the subject “The significance of primary prevention for a healthy life – the present and the future” and answered the audience queries on COVID 19 Vaccine.
Gajanan Bhat, Health Insurance Advisor gave a talk on the importance of health insurance and the need for its coverage and answered the audience queries in this regard.
Nelson Castelino, Community Development Convener and the Convener of the programme proposed the vote of thanks. The programme was compered by Mrs. Pramila Furtado, Joint Secretary, Catholic Sabha Derebail.
By Anil Patrao
