Goa’s Blood Man creates a century of donations

Not all heroes wear a cape or a mask, some wear their hearts on their sleeves. Meet Sudesh Narvekar, a real-life hero who walks amongst us, who has donated blood over 100 times. For decades, he has been a silent saviour having saved the lives of countless individuals in need. He’s known as Goa’s Blood Man and he comes from Ponda.

It was somewhere in 1992 that a then 18-year-old Sudesh witnessed a road accident. “I was in college at that time. As I was returning, I saw a person lying unconscious on the road. It looked like a hit and run case. I took this person in my vehicle and he was admitted to GMC.”

It didn’t end there. “Since he had lost a lot of blood, it had to be replaced. I had to donate blood, so that the person could receive the blood in his blood group. This incident changed my life.” says Sudesh, between managing two blood donation camps via phone calls, which were being held in the state by the Sarthak Foundation.

Since this incident, 32 years later, Sudesh has donated blood around 106 times. “After every 90 days, I donate, which makes it around four times in a year. No middle or lower class person’s life should be put at stake for non-availability of blood,” says Sudesh, who was honoured by Marcaim Primary Health Centre and Shri Navdurga Higher Secondary School on World Blood Donor Day today. 

He explains that anyone who has a hemoglobin count from 12.5 to 16.5 can donate once they turn 18. “Those who have undergone surgery or dog bites, should refrain from donating. By donating blood, there are a lot of advantages too,” says Sudesh, who is the convener of Sarthak Foundation, and in the last two to three years has organised over 250 blood donation camps in the state.

“There is no money involved in these donations, but the feeling and blessings you get is just unbelievable. Till date don’t have Gpay, because I know that there are some kindhearted people who will donate money,” says Sudesh, who runs a transportation business.