Profile

Lion’s Blood bank was the first licensed Blood Bank in the State of Tamil Nadu. It was commissioned in June 1984 when Mother Theresa visited and blessed the services of the blood bank.

A Public Charitable Trust, sponsored by Lions Club of Madras Egmore, the blood bank is an integral part of Lions Clubs International, the most active and the largest service club in the world. It is supported by over 150 Lions/Lioness/Leo Clubs with a membership of over 6000 committed citizens.

Voluntary blood donation has been an significant part of the service activities of Lions in this District for many years before this. Before the Lions Clubs started blood donation activities, blood was donated mostly by professionals. As professional donors came from the weaker sections of society, the chances of donors being anaemic and the blood being infected were high. So the purpose of blood donation itself was defeated.

To promote voluntary blood donation it was felt that a clean, centrally located place was needed. This would encourage voluntary blood donors to walk in, donate blood under ideal conditions and walk away without the need for waiting or mixing with professional blood donors. A District Program to build such a place was adopted by the then Governor Lion Dr R. Rabindranath in the year 1983-1984. Lions Club of Madras Egmore accepted the task of organising and successfully operating a Blood Bank. Ln T.J.George was the founder chairman of the project. Lion Fr. Kurean Thomas of Asha Nivas volunteered to spare a piece of land for the building of the blood bank. Later on, the blood bank moved from this premises to Halls Road and is currently located on Marshalls Road, Egmore.

The Blood Bank conforms to all the mandatory regulations laid down by the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, 1945. It also has the distinction of being the first project in the District 324-A1 of the Lions Clubs International to receive a standard grant from the LCIF to the tune of US $ 28,000. About 90% of the Clubs in the District have generously contributed to this project and continue to support with donations and by motivating voluntary donors to come and donate blood.

From a humble beginning in 1983, due to the untiring and zealous approach of many philanthropists, it has made remarkable progress and has carved a niche among the hospitals and the medical practitioners for supply of quality blood products today. The Blood Bank aims to sustain the efforts for structured progress towards obliterating the gap between demand and supply through organising voluntary donor banks - GOLD (Gift of Life Donors) club membership, shortening the response time by effective networking of Blood Banks, donor organisations and hospitals through a Toll Free call centre ultimately extending facilities like satellite blood centres so that blood reaches even the people working in the fields.

The Blood Bank is administered by the Board of Trustees which is composed of 19 Trustees from different walks of life. The Managing Trustees (elected by the Board of Trustees) are Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer who control the administration of the Blood Bank and report to the Board of Trustees. The Chairman heads the Trust while the Secretary looks after the administration and the Treasurer controls the financial transactions. The Managing Trustees appoint staff as required to run the Blood Bank in an effective manner and terminate any employee's service if he/she is found unfit for the organisation.

The Lions Club Blood Bank would like to acknowledge the sources of funds and concessions that helped this project to move from strength to strength:

• Lions Clubs invested over Rs 85 Lakh for the expansion program in the year 1998-99 to produce blood components.

• The State AIDS Cell provides HIV kits, free of charge, worth over Rs 2 Lakh every year.

• National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) has extended grant and cold storage equipment worth Rs 4 Lakh.

• Indian Oil Corporation, a Government of India undertaking, has donated Rs 1 Lakh for purchase of additional storage facility.

• Permitted by the Government of India to receive foreign contributions under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA).

• Lions Clubs International Foundation has sanctioned three grants worth over Rs 45 Lakh.

• LDS Charities, USA has extended financial assistance to the tune of Rs 6.15 Lakh for purchase of equipment.

• Government has waived customs duty on import of equipment to the tune of Rs 8.91 Lakh.

• 100% Income Tax exemption accorded by the Government of India for donations under section 35 AC of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Objectives:

• Make conveniently available good quality and safe blood and other blood components, and services which can be provided in a sound, ethical and acceptable manner, consistent with the long-term well-being of the community.

• Provide the products Free of Cost to the poor patients.

• Ensure safety and quality of blood through automated screening facilities.

• Actively encourage voluntary blood donation, motivate and maintain a well-indexed record of blood donors and educate the community on the benefits of blood donation and AIDS awareness.

• To establish a market for components by conducting CME programs.

Services

• Maintains high standards in blood banking and conducts all tests to ensure safe and quality blood to recipients

• Offers blood free of cost to poor patients.

• Works round the clock throughout the year (No holidays).

• Processes over 12000 units of blood per annum collected only from voluntary donors.

• Conducts an average of 15 blood donation camps a month.

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