Voluntary blood donors felicitated

The event for honouring representatives associated with blood donation organisations was held at Secretariat (media centre), Dehradun on Wednesday. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Thank you for saving my life” along with the slogan theme being “Give Freely, Give Often Blood Donation Matters”. Dr Neeraj Kherwal, project director, Uttarakhand State AIDS Control Society (USACS) and Dr IS Pal, general secretary of Indian Red Cross Society were present. Over 150 people attended. Students from different colleges and schools took part as well.

There are 27 licensed blood banks though four districts are devoid of blood banks. On July 8, State Blood Transfusion Council and Red Cross Society coordinated and organised camps in which 44 were registered as voluntary blood donors and 30 blood units were recorded. The work continued on July 10 where 75 people participated and 50 blood units were recorded.

Dr Kherwal said, “Safer and securer blood transmission donation camps are being formulised for the adequate supply of blood units where so required.”

The event aimed at highlighting stories from people whose lives have been saved through blood donation. “We promote voluntary blood donations at private as well as Government colleges and institutions through the organisation of awareness programmes,” added Kherwal.

It focuses on thanking blood donors who save lives every day through their blood donations and strongly encourages more people all over to donate blood voluntarily and regularly.  State Government is trying for a safer blood transmission, he added. Dr IS Pal said that they are trying to   increase the number of voluntary blood donation camps.