GUWAHATI, June 14 - Along with the rest of the country, Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) and Assam State Blood Transfusion Council (ASBTC) today observed World Blood Donor Day by organising an event at the International Convention Centre at Kalakshetra here.
Welcoming the participants, Dr P Ashok Babu, Project Director of ASACS, stressed this year�s theme �Blood connects us all�. �Blood is the connecting force within our body and in the same way it also connects human relationship,� he said.
He added that a system could be built through which people can donate blood safely.
Dr P Baruah, Deputy Director of Blood Transfusion Services (BTS), in his presentation provided an insight into the blood donation scenario in the State.
Pawan Kumar, Commissioner of Drugs & Food Safety, in his address referred to the significance of this day and exhorted everybody to come forward and donate blood.
Dr Anup Kr Barman, Director of Medical Education, spoke about the merits of blood donation.
Gajen Talukdar, State Drug Controller, spoke on the importance of voluntary and safe blood donation.
Dr Tirtha Chaliha, in-charge (Blood Bank) of GMCH, appealed to all the donor organisations to ensure that blood is donated regularly. �Collection of a huge quantity of blood at a time does not help as the validity of one unit of blood is only 35 days,� Chaliha said.
Altogether 11 best individual donors were felicitated during the programme. Gyan Chand Jain from Bongaigaon, who donated blood 86 times, narrated his experiences on blood donation.
A blood donation camp was also organised at the venue along with a folk music performance.
Our Jalukbari correspondent adds: The Gauhati University National Service Scheme (NSS) Cell, in collaboration with the State Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs organised a blood donation camp at the GU today, to mark World Blood Donor Day.
The guests and NSS volunteers were welcome by the Director of Students� Welfare and Programme Coordinator, NSS, Gauhati University Dr Ranjan Kr Kakati.
Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Naba Kumar Doley said blood donation is a noble activity that helps the needy people. GU Vice Chancellor Dr Mridul Hazarika congratulated all the blood donors and said that the GU NSS Cell is taking a good step of social responsibility.
Attending the function as the guest of honour, Ajay Tiwari, Commissioner and Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs, Govt of Assam thanked the donors and organisers of the camp.
Other guest speakers on the occasion were Anjan Sarma, Director Sports and Youth Affairs; Dr SK Nath, Registrar, Gauhati University and Pradip Hazarika, Deputy Director Sports and Youth Affairs, Govt of Assam.
GU students, faculty members, staff and NSS volunteers from affiliated colleges took part in the blood donation camp. Technical assistance was provided by doctors, nurses and staff of the MMC Hospital.
