AMWAY pays respect to martyrs with blood donation camp

The Amway Opportunity Foundation, AOF today in collaboration with the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, paid tribute to the martyrs of the Anglo Manipur War of 1891 and organized a blood donation camp at the RIMS blood bank.

The donation camp was organized with the objective to save lives with safe transfusion of blood. The aim behind the blood donation is also to make people aware of the umpteen health benefits of blood donation.

At a formal function, Prof A. Meina Singh, Head of the Department, Department of Immunohaematology & Blood Transfusion, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS Hospital, Imphal) inaugurated the Blood Donation Camp today at the premise of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences. The camp witnessed around 220 donors comprising of Amway Distributors and Amway employees in Imphal.

Speaking to mediapersons on the sideline of the camp, Sarbani Bhattacharya said that Amway Opportunity Foundation organized this blood donation camp highlighting health benefits of blood donation. While the most obvious health benefit of donating blood is the wonderful feeling derived from giving something vital to someone who needs it, the benefits of donating blood may extend far beyond this to having a positive impact on the donor’s health. Blood donation removes some of the excess iron which can cause free radical formation in the body. In fact, studies have shown that men who donate blood on a regular basis have a lower risk of heart disease. Donating blood also helps donors to burn calories and to enhance production of new red blood cells.

“Donating blood is one of the most noble and significant contribution that a person can make to the society. Every year many people die during surgery only because of not getting enough supply of blood in time. By donating blood we indirectly save many lives” said William S Pinckney, Chairman – Amway Opportunity Foundation.

Amway Opportunity Foundation and Amway Distributors have held in excess 400 blood donation camps over the past four years. Over 40,000 units of blood have been donated at these blood donation camps. The largest ever Blood Donation Camp was held in Orissa with 830 donors.

In Manipur, Amway Opportunity Foundation (AOF) has adopted an orphanage MEETEI PHURUP under Project Sunrise and undertaken developmental activities in education, health and access to safe drinking water. AOF had rolled out Project Sunrise in Imphal in 2009 and announced its partnership with Meetei Phurup in Imphal. To mark the beginning, AOF had donated computers, installed water purifiers and also provided infrastructural support.

“Project Sunrise is supported by Amway’s Global CSR initiative – One by One, and will extend to 64 orphanages across the country. This Project is primarily supported by Amway’s 50th year anniversary funds, where AOF will engage partnerships with NGOs to support on-going education, healthcare (with focus on access to safe drinking water) and nutrition,” said Diptarag Bhattacharjee, Vice President – East, Amway, also a volunteer of AOF. Interestingly, Amway considers all its employees and distributors, as AOF volunteers.