GUWAHATI, June 14 - The Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) and Assam State Blood Transfusion Council (ASBTC) observed World Blood Donor Day at the GMCH auditorium here today.
The theme of the World Blood Donor Day this year is �What can you do? Give blood, Give now, Give often�.
Stressing the importance of World Blood Donor Day, Project Director of ASACS and Director of ASBTC Manvendra Pratap Singh said, �Compared to other states of the country, voluntary blood donation in our State is low. In order to increase voluntary blood donation in our State, ASBTC has been strengthened and is playing a vital role in promotion of voluntary blood donation and mass awareness campaign.�
He further said that 30 per cent of the world�s population is in developed countries and 80 per cent of the population there are voluntary blood donors. And in developing countries, it is merely 20 per cent. In rural areas, the voluntary blood donation is 15 to 16 per cent.
Speaking on the occasion, Principal Secretary to the Govt of Assam, Health and Family Welfare Department, Samir Kumar Sinha said, �Voluntary blood donation must be a mass movement. We have a long way to go. We must reach out to every inhabitant and for this we need to build a good partnership with all other government and non-government agencies.�
He further said, �Safe blood is an important ingredient for saving lives and thus non-remunerative blood donation is the need of the hour.�
Giving an overview of the present blood transfusion scenario in Assam, Assistant Director, Blood Transfusion Services (BTS), ASACS, Fokhrul Alam Choudhury said that 68 licensed blood banks are functioning in Assam, out of which 26 are NACO-supported.
In 2016-17, Assam was able to collect 2,12,256 units of blood against the target of 2, 20,000 units. Of these 1,17,261 units were collected through voluntary blood donation. He also urged the youths to come forward and donate blood voluntarily.
NHM Mission Director JVN Subramanium while narrating his experiences in Goalpara, said that most of the maternal deaths are due to unavailability of blood in hospitals.
Dr Tirtha Chaliha, HoD, Deptt of Pathology, GMCH also spoke on the importance of blood donation.
Three best voluntary blood donor organisations � IIT Guwahati, Marwari Yuva Manch (Greater Guwahati) and Marwari Yuva Mancha (Kamrup) � were felicitated during the event.
A blood donation camp was also organised in the blood mobile bus at the venue where more than 30 people donated blood.
Jorabat Correspondent adds: Along with the rest of the world, the World Blood Donor Day was observed by North East Cancer Hospital and Research Institute (NECHRI), Jorabat, and Jagiroad College at the NECHRI Blood Bank on Wednesday.
About 42 students led by the principal of Jagiroad College, Dr Bhaben Neog, donated blood to needy cancer patients. The day marks the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner who discovered the blood groups in 1900 and the Rh factor in 1937. He was also honoured with the Nobel Prize for his findings in 1930.
The World Blood Donor Day is celebrated by all the member nations of World Health Organization to thank voluntary blood donors for saving millions of life. A group of 36 students from Ireland, joined by local and Nigerian students, celebrated the day at NECHRI.
Managing Director of NECHRI Dr MN Baruah, in-charge of Blood Bank Dr TK Chakrabarty and in-charge of Social Healthcare Dr Gitartha Roymedhi were present in the event. Members of the non-government organisation, Bahar Care Foundation, were also present on the occasion.
