State joins observance of World Blood Donation Day
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 14 2024: The state joined in the observance of World Blood Donation Day - 2024 on Friday with State Blood Cell, Health Society, National Health Mission (Manipur) and State Blood Transfusion Council, Manipur jointly commemorating the day at GP Women's College, here, on Friday.

The observance function held under the theme "20 Years of Celebrating Giving: Thank You Blood Donors!", was attended by Health Services director Dr O Sanah-anbi Devi and NHM Manipur mission director Dr Somorjit Ningombam as chief guest and president respectively while JNIMS Department of Transfusion Medicine professor Dr A Barindra Sharma, Blood Centre senior MO in-charge Dr Konsam Surjit and GP Women's College principal Hijam Romi Devi were guests of honour.

Speaking at the event, Dr Sanahanbi highlighted that donating blood not only saves lives and offers new lease of life to the recipients but also promotes the donor's health.

She commended nobleness of the blood donors and urged them to donate blood regularly.

In his address, Dr Konsam Surjit noted that regardless of the appreciable increase in the number of voluntary blood donors, presence of donors in abundance poses logistics issues as blood cannot be collected and stored indefinitely.

As such there is need for a collaborative meeting involving voluntary donors, relevant organisations, government blood service employees, and blood centre officials to regulate spurt in number of donors.

Over 40 people donated blood on the occasion while certificates were handed over to the regular donors.

Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal also observed "World Blood Donor Day 2024" on the same theme at the General OPD premises of the hospital on Friday and conducted a blood donation camp at Department of Transfusion Medicine.

The observance was inaugurated by RIMS director Prof G Sunil Kumar Sharma, in the presence of MS Prof N Sanjib Singh, dean (Academics) Prof Brogen Singh Akoijam, and Department of Transfusion Medicine head Prof A Barindra Sharma as presidium members.

Prof G Sunil also donated blood as one of the donors to signify the importance of blood donation, the process, and its impact on saving lives.

In all, 50 people donated blood.

Addressing the gathering, Prof G Sunil honoured and thanked all who donated their blood, voluntarily and unpaid, to give others the gift of life.

While highly valuing every drop of blood, he stressed that as a single unit of blood can save three lives, the masses need to be made aware about such a noble cause as well as on advantages of donating blood in our body.

Blood donors have psychologically low stress and sense of belongingness in society, the director maintained citing medical researchers suggesting that donating blood can even reduce the rate of heart attack, reduce iron storage and helps the liver to stay healthy.

Further, he stated that during the Dengue epidemic, RIMS Blood Bank helped the public at its best level.

However, there was shortage of blood donors at that time.

Blood can be donated at least three times in a year and therefore, requested doctors, nurses, staff and students of institute to donate as well.

As hospital staff, we should proactively assist people by explaining proper procedures to obtain blood by needy people, he said, while giving a message to the public that "There is no loss in donating our blood but instead it gives lots of benefits in our body".

With regard to unethical blood trade, Dr Sunil advised department concerned to take strict action if anyone is found indulging in such illegal activity, and immediately report the same to the MS.The observance was also attended by RIMS deputy director (Admin) RK Mecolt Singh, heads of all departments, principals of Dental College and College of Nursing, faculties, chief nursing officer in-charge, nursing officials, students and staff of RIMS.

Meanwhile, Indian Red Cross Society, Manipur state branch observed World Blood Donation Day-2024 at JNIMS blood bank on Friday along with a blood donation camp in coordination with JNIMS blood centre and Enhance Manipur Cabin Crew Training Centre, Changangei.

A total of 53 volunteers donated blood during the camp.

In connection with the said observance, a voluntary blood donation camp was also organised by Indian Army (59 Mountain Brigade), in collaboration With Shija Blood Centre & Transfusion Services (Langol), Indian Red Cross Society (Bishnupur), Chhyatap Foundation, and District Hospital, Bishnupur, on Friday at the District Hospital.

A total of 70 volunteers participated in the camp.

World Blood Donor Day is celebrated annually on June 14 to recognise humane contributions of blood donors.

This year's theme, "20 years of celebrating giving: thank you blood donors!" highlights two decades of worldwide recognition of the vital contribution of blood donors, a release by Shija Business Development manager L Premjit Singh informed.

World Blood Donation Day was also observed by Indian Army across the North Eastern states by conducting donation camps on Friday.

Indian Army organised donation camps in in Manipur, Assam and Tripura, including at Bishnupur district hospital which was attended by Bishnupur DC, Indian Red Cross Society, Bishnupur branch chairman and top officials of Indian army deployed in the district.

Many Indian Army personnel and youth donated blood during the camp.

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