A mother and her daughter came together to a college in Howrah on Saturday morning to donate blood.
It was a first for 18-year-old Zeba Kulsum Molla as well as the 43-year-old Yeamina Begum.
They were not the only ones.
Over 70 women came to Deeniyat Muallima College in Howrah, keeping aside their inhibitions and striking a blow at the myths regarding health concerns in donating blood, to undertake the exercise.
The camp was organised by women for women donors, an unusual sight from the regular camps that are mostly male, be it the organisers or the donors.
Yeamina Begum told the organisers on Saturday that it required both courage and opportunity for her to step out and donate blood.
“We had to convince women that they can donate blood and that it is safe for them to do so. It was a fear that they had to overcome,” said Siddika Tabassum, director, Deeniyat Muallima College.
Tabassum said that the other factor that clicked for many of the women was donating blood in an environment that was not male-dominated.
Chandramouli Bhattacharya, the infectious disease specialist, said that except for haemoglobin there is no difference between a man and a woman when it comes to donating blood.
“In general, the haemoglobin reference values for women are lower than that of men. Usually blood banks test and see if the haemoglobin is in the range of 11.5grams/ deciliter to 12.5gram/decilitre for a woman. But blood banks are more stringent than blood donation camps,” he said.
“But in society, there is a mindset to discourage women from donating blood which should not be the case,” Bhattacharya added.
The discouragement often comes from irrational health concerns.
On Saturday of the 70, 67 were fit to donate blood and they collected 36 units of blood.
Sheikh Fardeena Khatun, a second-year student, said she was scared initially but after donating she felt more relaxed.
“Blood donation is an important thing to do because the blood I donate today can be used to save a life. I am happy I could do it,” she said.
“Why should such an important thing as blood donation remain restricted to men alone?” asked another woman.
A teacher and principal of the online section of the college, Tahmina Khatun, said that they teach students to work for others and help others. Donating blood gave her the opportunity to set that example, she said.
“I have tried to donate blood earlier but had to return because there have only been men. Since it has been organised here by women in a college it inspired me and many others to come forward,” Khatun said.