Visakhapatnam : 

KRB Prakash is the director of the shipping firm KRM Sons, while Dr A V Siva Prasad is a gastroenterologist – two professions that are poles apart. However, the two have something in common – the practice of donating blood.

Prakash has donated blood 65 times in the last 30 years, while Dr Prasad has donated blood 52 times since the early ’80s. The two have also turn their families and friends into regular blood donors.

Prakash told TOI during the World Blood Donor Day celebrations organised by A S Raja Voluntary Blood Bank here on Friday that he had started donating blood in 1982 at KGH Blood Bank, which was the only blood bank at that time.

He said that he had become a regular voluntary donor as there was a need to help people in distress. He was also one of the members of his club who helped create a directory of blood donors so that it could allow people to easily locate voluntary donors.

Since then not only has he donated blood but has also encouraged employees at his firm and family members to do this noble deed. “My son K Rohit has already donated blood 15 times,” he said proudly.

Ask Dr Prasad why he donated blood 52 times and he says, “The question should be why have you not donated blood? People should walk in voluntarily and donate blood because everyday some person or the other will need it.”

There is a high requirement for blood, Dr Prasad said, adding that his wife Dr Sugandhi, who looks after the A S Raja Blood Bank, and doctor son Sailesh also donate blood regularly. “Most of my family members donate blood regularly,” he said.

Dr Prasad said that while he was studying in Chandigarh in the early 1980s, the blood donation campaigns had influenced him.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / June 15th, 2013