“Imagine a child going through regular blood transfusions by taking a needle every 20-25 days, all their life. Sad and scary, is it?
No, it was very brave and inspiring to witness this act and hence you see us, Blood Warriors like the name suggests, working for Thalassemia patients.

I have been actively donating blood for 3 years but have donated it in camps earlier. As a dear friend once said, Blood is a national asset that can save others’ lives as well as mine. This point got me thinking and pandemic has proved it right by showing how we are all connected, as seen through the demand for plasma donors. Blood donation was started as a responsibility and but now it has become a way to add life to others, creating an unparalleled sense of fulfilment. If a child can take needle every 20-25 days, as an adult taking it once in every 3-4 months is no matter of discussion.

As we go deep into solving Thalassemia issue, we realized there are so many gaps to fill and we are doing whatever it takes.

1. We have developed a chatbot with REAN foundation to manage and support Thalassemia ecosystem, possibly the first of its kind in the country. The chatbot automates scheduling blood donation, sends reminders, and connects donors to patients through trained AI that is voice enabled. Currently under pilot, the chatbot will be launched soon.
2. Blood Warrior volunteers have also taken it upon themselves to get tested for HPLC, a Thalassemia diagnosis, to walk the talk towards a Thalassemia-free India. The tests are conducted for free at the Aarohi Blood Center with Tapadia diagnostics, and anyone can message or walk in to be part of this initiative.

Blood Warriors has recently received a vocational award for our commitment to society from Rotary Club of Jubilee Hills.

Our current focus is on scaling deep instead of running behind numbers. The aim is to build a system that improves the care of patients and raises awareness to prevent this disorder at source. As we move forward, the vision is to replicate this system with larger stakeholders, such as the government, to make a lasting impact.”

My message to everyone on World Thalassemia Day is

1. Educate yourself & share about Thalassemia & blood disorders to understand causes, symptoms & treatments.
2. Donate blood if healthy – saves lives & only takes 15 mins.
3. If young, get HPLC tested with partner to prevent lifelong trauma.
4. Volunteer your time, skills or resources to support Thalassemia cause – organize drives, raise awareness, support patients & families, fundraise for research.