Highlights
- Australian Red Cross calls for blood donation ahead of World Red Cross Day on 8 May
- Melbourne’s Nepali community donate blood in large numbers
- Female participation in blood donation campaigns from the community is low
Members of Australia's Nepali community are increasingly participating in blood donation campaigns as Red Cross calls upon people from ethnic backgrounds to donate blood regularly.
According to the Red Cross, only one in five Australian blood donors is born overseas, making it difficult for patients with blood groups with lower availability to obtain the blood they need.
Lifeblood, the Australian Red Cross’ branch responsible for collecting and distributing blood and related products in Australia, says blood donation helps save lives.
Cath Stone is the executive director of Lifeblood.
She says the importance of donating blood is not just about providing blood.
Cath Stone Executive Director of Donor Services of Lifeblood addresses the media during a press conference in Frankston, Melbourne. Source: AAP
“It’s not just about the red substance. Plasma and plasma medicines are often the last line of defence or treatments of different types of conditions like cancer, autoimmune conditions, bleeding disorders or burns patients,” she told WHOM?
Melbourne resident Roshan Upadhyay is a member of the local Nepali community. So far, he has donated blood nearly 50 times in Australia.
Roshan Upadhyay from Epping Wollert Nepalese Community has nearly donated blood 50 times in Australia. Source: Roshan Upadhyay
Mr Upadhayay, president of the Epping Wollert Nepalese Community (EWNC), says his blood donation count is high because he predominately donates plasma rather than whole blood.
“One cannot know the satisfaction of blood donation until you do it yourself,” he told SBS Nepali.
Father of two young children, Mr Upadhayay urges people to fully commit to this cause rather than “looking for excuses to not donate”.
Source: Roshan Upadhyay/Epping Wollert Nepalese Community
However, with many people in his community working odd shifts and managing family commitments, Mr Upadhyay says he understands why many find it difficult to find time for donating blood.
Another Nepali community organisation organises its own donation campaigns.
Royal Western Football Club runs sports and other community events in western Melbourne. It recently organised a four-day blood donation event.
Its secretary Sushil Chalise says they spread the event over four days to include as many people as possible.
Sushil Chalise has been instrumental in getting Nepali community members in Western Melbourne to donate their blood. Source: Sushil Chalise/Royal Western Club
Mr Chalise said that in those four days, about 50 people from the local Nepali community donated blood, out of which 28 were first-time donors.
Like Mr Upadhyay, Mr Chalise also thinks many in the community harbour misconceptions and fear about donating blood.
“From my experience, many people just panic... it’s just one of those things,” said Mr Chalise, who has donated blood 22 times in Australia.
Source: Sushil Chalise/Royal Western Club
He says he was thrilled to know that his donated blood has been flown down to Tasmania and up to the Northern Territory and has helped save lives.
He said if it weren’t for the “initial struggle phase of a migrant in Australia”, he would have donated many more times.
According to Mr Chalise, migrating to Australia and the subsequent challenges of providing for family meant he had to withhold the donation and focus on his needs.
Source: Sushil Chalise/Royal Western Club
However, being regular blood donors, Mr Upadhaya and Mr Chalise concur that they see less female participation in blood donation campaigns.
But there are a few exceptions.
Bobby Lama, a single mother in Melbourne, says she donates blood as a social service.
Ms Lama believes that women’s participation in critical community activities such as blood donation is low due to family reasons.
She says that if a single parent like her can find the time, it should not be difficult for others.
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” Ms Lama says.
Bobby Lama is one of few Nepali female blood donors in Australia. Source: Bobby Lama
