O.Ganbayar: I realize I’m a valuable member of society when donating blood
More and more young people are voluntarily donating their blood to save lives in Mongolia as a result of numerous activities aimed to promote the importance of blood donations...
More and more young people are voluntarily donating their blood to save lives in Mongolia as a result of numerous activities aimed to promote the importance of blood donations.
A clear example is 22-yearold O.Ganbayar, who became the youngest honored blood donor of this year on World Blood Donor Day, marked every June 14.
O.Ganbayar, who is currently studying oral and maxillofacial surgery in his fourth year at the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, gave an interview to talk about why he donates blood.
Congratulation on becoming the youngest person to receive the Honored Blood Donor award. What made you want to donate your blood?
Thank you. In 2013, our classmates were designated as residents at the Third State Central Hospital. During my residency, I realized how crucial it is to replenish our blood. While doing a research on hemophilia, a genetic disorder, I found that patients suffering from this disease, especially children, need blood products more than anything. From then on, I started donating my blood as much as I could to support these patients.
What kind of health requirements do people have to meet to become a donor? How many times have you donated your blood?
Anyone between the ages of 17 and 60 who weigh more than 45 kg are allowed to donate their blood. Those interested can fill out an application form at the National Blood Center to donate their blood. There are some requirements such as not being affected by any communicable disease, having normal blood pressure, and not having bad habits (smoking and drugs).
The honored donor title is given to people who have donated their blood more than 35 times. Men are allowed to donate blood every two months, so I fulfilled this requirement in five years.
Does your family encourage you to continue to donate blood?
I am the youngest in my family, so my mother has been taking extra care of me ever since I was a baby. Sometimes, my mother discourages me from donating blood because she thinks that it will tire me more with all of my studies. Each time she told me this, I strongly explain to her why I am doing this.
Some people ask that being a blood donor does have any benefits, how much do you earn by donating your blood? Donating blood is unconditional support for others, I feel more valuable by doing this. Because donating blood once not only saves three people’s lives, but also you will save an entire family and give them happiness.
Do you prepare yourself on the previous day before donating your blood?
I sleep more than six hours and adjust my meals. Because donating blood while having an empty stomach is safer as it presents less risks than full.
What is the best thing about being a donor for you?
The most precious thing about being a donor is saving someone’s life and gives me pride in myself. We all have a time when we feel useless in this world or think there is nothing we could do. By donating blood, you view yourself as a saver of life and valuable person. Donating blood is even beneficial to the donor, because their blood starts replenishing and becomes less dense than before. Also, blood pressure will reduce and you would avoid suffering from diabetes.
Is it true that honored donor receives incentive from government?
It is true. Government grants donors a free bus cards and we undergo treatment in sanitarium once a year. Also, when we are serviced by state guild, we receive exemption on lining.
You said that you have given 20-liter blood within five years. Have you ever confronted any difficulties in those years?
For people who gave their blood first time may suffer from anxiety. Some people even faint or get dizzy due to their health condition at that time. As for me, I have not faced any harsh problems yet. Because most of our blood regularly runs through the vessels, and a little amount of blood accumulates in cells. Blood capacity returns to normal shortly after donating blood, so I do not worry about blood deficiency. I try to cook meals that contains more tomatoes. Recently, blood preserve at the National Blood Center has increased by 36.1 percent, but still patients who are suffering from blood diseases are famishing for blood. I wish every person would start donating their blood at least once a year.