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Five mobile blood collection vans launched

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 8 - In order to accelerate voluntary blood donation in the State, five mobile blood collection vans were launched by State Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at the Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) here recently.

The vans will be stationed at the four medical colleges of the State and one district hospital. The vans will be stationed at Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College Hospital, Barpeta; Assam Medical College Hospital, Dibrugarh; Silchar Medical College Hospital, Cachar; Tezpur Medical College Hospital, Sonitpur; and Bhogeshwari Phukanani Civil Hospital, Nagaon.

Speaking on the occasion after the inaugural of the vans, Sarma, said �Voluntary blood donation movement has to be strengthened in the State. Many organisations and individuals want to come forward and donate blood but due to lack of proper facilities they are not being able to do so. The mobile blood collection vans can go to the remotest of the remote places of the districts and collect blood. It is just a matter of a phone call.�

He further said, �At times it is seen that blood is not available in the hospitals and the poor patients cannot bring a replacement donor along with them. Therefore, these vans will be able to conduct awareness camps on blood donation and collect blood from the remote places which would ensure that there is sufficient blood in the blood banks.�

The Minister further stated that the government has already established seven new blood banks in the districts of Biswanath, Majuli, Baksa, Chirang, Udalguri, Kamrup (Sonapur Civil Hospital) and Cachar. �Blood banks will also be established in the newly-carved districts of Charaideo, Hojai, South Salmara Mancachar and West Karbi Anglong,� he said.

The Minister also informed that Blood Storage Centres in 54 FRUs (First Referral Unit) would be upgraded to blood banks. He also appealed to the gathering to donate blood, especially during their birthdays.

Earlier, Commissioner & Secretary to the Govt of Assam & Project Director, Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) Anurag Goel, while welcoming the participants said, �To improve 100 per cent Voluntary Blood Donation by motivating non-remunerated blood donors and phasing out all the replacement donors, Mobile Blood Collection Van is essential in every district which comprise two donor couches for conducting outdoor voluntary blood donation camps and awareness on a regular basis.�

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