The percentage of voluntary blood donation in the State of Uttarakhand has shown a phenomenal growth in the last decade. At the time of the creation of the new State in the year 2000, the percentage of voluntary blood donation was only 15 per cent while the majority of the donation used to be in the replacement one. As of now the voluntary blood donation contributes to a staggering 90 per cent of total blood donation.
The replacement blood donation is that when relatives or near and dear ones of the patients donate blood or arrange donor for transfusion requirement.
The Additional Project Director (APD) Uttarakhand State AIDS Control Society (USACS), Dr V S Tolia told The Pioneer that the State is now among the leading States in voluntary blood donation. He informed that the State has taken up a target of 1,05,000 units from Voluntary donation in this Financial Year (FY) and till August 52,000 units of blood have been collected. He sounded confident that the target of would be achieved much before time in this year. Dr Tolia said that the Government promotes voluntary blood donation as it shows increased awareness in the society and this type of blood is qualitatively better as only a healthy person donates blood. He said that Uttarakhand has taken up a target to take the percentage of voluntary blood donation to 100 percent. Dr Tolia was of the view that increasing literacy level in the State is one of the causes of increased awareness for blood donation in the masses. He said that at 90 per cent the voluntary blood donation is at par with southern States and much higher than many north Indian States. Dr Tolia added that since blood cannot be synthesised so donation is the only option available in medical science. He informed that a healthy person between the age of 18 to 65 and having Hemoglobin level of 12.5 and above can donate blood after every three months.