Chandigarh, October 1: National Voluntary Blood Donation Day was celebrated in Punjab with enthusiasm on Thursday.
On this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab Sh. OP Soni told that 1150 Blood units were collected in 16 Voluntary Blood Donation camps by various Blood Centres on the occasion of National Voluntary Blood Donation Day 1st October, 2021.
He told that Promotion of Voluntary Blood Donation is the key strategy for enhancing blood safety. Thus this year the day is celebrated to encourage and motivate the people especially the youth to come forward to donate blood voluntarily and be a warrior in this fight against CORONA.
Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab stated that during the time of COVID-19 pandemic the State has seen the decline in the overall collection of blood in the blood centers. The requirement of blood has also reduced in this time due to various reasons like deferral of the surgeries and elective procedures etc. Still, there is persistent need of blood for those suffering from various Haemoglobinopathies, those needing during the childbirth, emergency requirements, road traffic accidents etc.
However, even in these challenging hours of the Corona pandemic, the blood donors did not allow any shortage of blood, and even during the lockdown, they continued donating blood for the needy with the passes issued by the Government.
He said that the objective of celebrating of National Voluntary Blood Donation Day of this year’s campaign is “To highlight the need for committed, year round blood donation to maintain adequate supplies and achieve universal and timely access to safe blood transfusion.”
Deputy Chief Minister further added that blood donation, which is voluntary and selfless, for any good cause and without any pressure is considered a great donation. A person who donates blood voluntarily is the real hero of society.
Because their donated blood can save many lives. He encouraged people to donate more blood. Also all the Government Hospitals in Punjab are providing free blood facility to the patients.
All Voluntary Blood Donors especially youth are appealed to contribute their precious life saving gift of blood in the in-house and outdoor Voluntary Blood Donation Camps being organized by the blood centres from 1st October, 2021 to 31st October, 2021 and in future also for reducing the sufferings of the patients.
Sh. Amit Kumar, Project Director of Punjab State AIDS Control Society said that there are 141 licensed blood centres in Punjab for the convenience of the people, out of which 46 are run by the Government, 6 by the Military, and 89 by the Private Hospitals and institutions.
In addition, 101 blood centres have the facility of blood component separation. One unit of blood donated with this facility can save four precious lives.
Dr. Bobby Gulati, Additional Project Director, Punjab State AIDS Control Society said that Punjab is collecting more blood units than the target set by the Government of India. In the year 2020-21, the total number of 3, 79,846 blood units were collected in collaboration with blood donors, NGOs and blood centres.
Dr. Sunita Devi, Joint Director, Blood Transfusion Services told that the Voluntary Blood Donors are the cornerstone of a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood products.
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