MYA hosts pre-jubilee blood camp to recall earlier community service efforts
The Marepkong Youth Association (MYA), as part of its activities leading up to its Silver Jubilee celebration next year, organized a blood donation drive at Marepkong Community Hall on Friday, November 28, revisiting one of the ward’s earliest and most impactful community initiatives.
During the program, former advisors and member of the Souvenir Committee, Drenshah Jamir, recalled how the MYA began organising blood donation efforts in 2008, a period when Mokokchung had no blood bank. He said that in those days, when someone in the colony needed blood, it was extremely difficult for willing donors to locate the right match.
To address this gap, the MYA decided to create a ward-level platform by maintaining a donor register with blood groups, enabling immediate coordination during emergencies.
“Our initiative started with about 40-plus youths. And as more people came to know—not just in Marepkong Ward, but we were able to extend help to other wards too,” Jamir shared. However, many donors registered then have since moved away.
A representative from the Blood Centre, IMDH, lauded the ward for its initiative, calling the colony a “progressive mindset” for taking the lead. He recounted how the ward had even organised mock drills during the COVID-19 period. He added that this was the first time a ward in Mokokchung had invited the Blood Centre for a camp in his five years of stay.
He also highlighted the challenges faced by the blood bank in Mokokchung, noting that its stock is limited due to the short shelf life of blood – only 30–45 days. He said that demand in Mokokchung is higher than supply, and added that in previous years, while the requirement was around 1,500 units, only 1,200 could be met due to mismatched or expired blood.
Mayang Jamir, Convenor of the Jubilee Planning Committee, said that as it prepares for its jubilee year, it wants to look back at this noble initiative and revive the spirit of community service that characterised their early years.
Molo Jamir, President of Mokokchung District Voluntary Blood Donors Association (MDVBDA), lauded the MYA for the initiative. He recalled that the MDVBDA was formed in 2011 and although Mokokchung had a blood bank at the time, donor participation was very low.
“The government provided the facilities, but people did not make use of it. It has gradually changed,” he said. He added that while most people now understand the importance of blood donation, “it is only through the action of donating blood that one can know the contentment of saving lives.”
Apart from blood donation, Thursday’s camp also offered screening and testing services for diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and other conditions, benefitting the broader community.
About 15 donors turned up for the camp.
