The 10th anniversary of Sankalp India Foundation presented the organisation with the opportunity to review the work done through the past years and formulate the strategy for the decade to come. The pedagogic approach taken through the years to unveil the intricacies of the tasks we took at hand and to build strong solutions presented the organisation led to the challenge to scale up the work and reach out further in the pursuit of the goals. It took only a few weeks of intense discussions, planning and strategizing and the teams were back to work.
Significant milestones achieved:
- The Rakta Kranti team of the organisation scaled new heights with a 35% increase in blood collection over last year taking the total number of blood units contributed to 11,318.
- The year saw the biggest ever fight with the summer shortage of blood put up by the organisation. In the April to July months, when blood banks did not have options to conduct camps, the team contributed 5,400 units of blood.
- The organisation initiated a paradigm shift in making blood donation safer and more comfortable for the donors by introducing a training and capacity building program for management of complications associated with blood donation.
- The organisation strengthened the network for systematic management of extremely rare blood groups, making units of blood available in extremely difficult to manage situations. Total of 49 Bombay blood group requests including 6 Bombay negative requests were managed.
- The organisation further automated the blood help-line to provide convenient and quick access to blood stocks to the needy.
- A new daycare center for thalassemia supported by SIF was started at Rashtrotthana Parishat under the name of “Project Samraksha” on 26 August 2014. The total number of children under organised care and management for Thalassemia thus rose to 400+.
- The organisation implemented protocols for management of thalassemia beyond blood transfusion ensuring that the necessary medications, lab investigations and specialist intervention get’s streamlined for the children suffering from thalassemia.
Largely run by the volunteers with very few supporting staff members, the organisation was successful in ensuring that all the teams of the organisation delivered work every single day of the year - the way it has been ever since the organisation’s inception.
Last year also saw national and international recognition and appreciation showered onto SIF for pioneering work and innovation. The organisation was called on to share experiences at various forums thus getting an opportunity to influence a positive change in the society beyond the working boundaries of the organisation.
Year 2013-14 also witnessed unprecedented support and confidence expressed by various stakeholders in the organisation. with each challenge that came our way, we got the helping hand of participation of generous souls, be it the donors, the medical teams, the administrators, volunteers or the public at large. That’s what kept the flame of our mission burning bright!
With more work being done we are getting more awareness - better understanding of how things should be. This awareness is difficult to handle - knowing the most deep rooted and challenging problems of blood transfusion medicine and care for children with genetic blood disorders. However, any deviation from what is the best interest of our nation and our people, is only a motivation for us. The year to come will see still more transformation. The organisation will need to push itself further to replicate the success in individual centers, to capacity build the blood banks and hospitals, to ensure that there is always blood on shelf for the needy and to ensure that more and more children see the transformation from untimely death to a promising life.
Last year was one of transformation, newer-challenges and delivery. The year leaves us with renewed energy, enthusiasm and greater thirst to deliver upon our mission - to give life a better chance.
No Anniversary Celebration This Year
Sankalp volunteers have always reserved the day of anniversary for celebration, for reconnect with the extended Sankalp family and for presentation of performance report for the past year. As 23rd May approached we started getting calls from friends and well wishers enquiring about the day and time of the event. However, till the last week before the proposed date of the event we were not even sure if we will be able to organise the same.
This year the anniversary program was cancelled to ensure that each commitment our teams make is delivered to the best. Numerous blood donation drives, emergency requests, better thalassemia management and the huge amount of coordination kept the volunteers completely engaged with the most essential things. With a heavy heart we decided to skip the anniversary program. After all, what use would a celebration be if it came at the cost of undermining the very cause that we stand for.
Keep Walking!