World Blood Donor Day was observed in Meghalaya today.
The day was observed in NEIGRIHMS, Shillong Military Hospital, Umroi Field Hospital, Jowai and elsewhere with programmes to express gratitude to the voluntary blood donor organisations for their altruistic act.
At NEIGRIHMS, Dr Ashok Rai, DIG (Medical), BSF Composite Hospital, Frontier Headquarter, and Dr L Somorendra, Senior Director, Regional Office for Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Health Family Welfare, Government of India and Prof C Daniala, Medical Superintendent, NEIGRlHMS, were present.
The keynote address of the programme was delivered by Dr. Lutika Nepram, In Charge, NEIGRIHMS Blood Centre who explained the importance, the need and the scenario of voluntary blood donation in the state of Meghalaya.
A pledge taking ceremony was also held where all present took the pledge to become regular voluntary blood donors and to spread the awareness about voluntary blood donation.
Alongside, a voluntary blood donation camp was also conducted at Military Hospital Shillong to mark the occasion where 76 donors donated their blood. The programme was inaugurated by Dr. S N Kulkarni, Commandant, Military Hospital.
In a run up to the event, a motivational talk on the importance and necessity of voluntary blood donation was delivered by Dr. Lutika Nepram, In Charge, NEIGRIHMS Blood Centre on June 8 at 421 Field Hospital, Umroi Military Station to an audience of 250 Army officers, personnel and their families.
This was followed by a Voluntary Blood Donation Camp on June 9 where 100 blood units were donated by the Army officers and personnel.
The programmes were inaugurated by Colonel Prafull Mohan, Commanding Officer, 421 Field Hospital, Umroi Military Station who also led the pledge taking ceremony.
In Jowai, an awareness cum blood donation camp was organized by Khynroo Khyllood Committee, Kur Sookpoh Khad-Ar Wyrnai, Jowai in collaboration with Jowai Civil Hospital Blood Centre.
Dr P Shylla, the officer in charge of Jowai Civil Hospital Blood Centre, encouraged every healthy person not suffering from any disease who has reached 18-60 years of age, having a minimum weight of 45kg and a haemoglobin level of 12.5 minimum to donate blood.
June 14 is celebrated all around the world as World Blood Donor Day in honour of Dr. Karl Landsteiner who discovered the ABO blood group system. This clay is celebrated to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and its components and to thank voluntary non remunerated blood donors for their selfless act.
This year the World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling on people all around the globe to give blood in a gesture of solidarity.
Access to safe blood and its components is a critical aspect of the health care system. The need for blood is ever more and becoming a regular voluntary non remunerated blood donor is a simple but selfless act in helping save lives.
