*Sham announces Emergency Hospital for Awantipora
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 14: Terming volunteer blood donors as equal stakeholders in saving the ailing, Minister for Medical & Technical Education, R S Chib today emphasized the need for attitudinal change regarding the fears of donating blood for helping the needy.
Addressing the gathering in a function held in observance of the ‘World Blood Donor Day’ at Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu, organised by Blood Transfusion Department in conjunction with J&K AIDS Control Society and supported by Regional Red Cross Society, ISBTI and Young Blood Association, Mr Chib said this day is being observed every year globally to salute everyone who donates blood voluntarily to save precious lives.
IGP, Jammu, Dilbagh Singh, Drug Controller, Satish Gupta and officiating Principal, Dr Aniece Choudhary were present on the occasion.
The theme of this year’s World Donor Day is “Every blood donor is a hero”, inspiring donors to become a hero by contributing towards noble cause. The day is dedicated to birthday of Karl Landsteiner, the creator of ABO blood group system.
Paying homage to Karl, Mr Chib appealed the NGOs and youth to launch a campaign for voluntary and non-remunerative blood donation in households, schools, colleges and other workplaces. Mr Chib appreciated the role of defence forces, blood associations, NGOs, other social organization like KV Sanghattan in promoting blood donation and hoped that they will carry forward this noble mission with same spirit and zeal.
Earlier, the minister interacted with the blood donors who were voluntarily donating blood in the hospital. Later, a documentary on blood donation was presented by Young Blood Association.
To mark the World Blood Donors Day a one-day mega awareness-cum-blood donation camp was held at Islamic University Awantipora, Srinagar today. The programme was organized by the J&K State AIDS Control and Prevention Society in collaboration with Islamic University, State Health Department and Government Medical College, Srinagar.
Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Sham Lal Sharma was chief guest on the occasion and Vice Chancellor, Islamic University, Prof. A.R.Trag presided over the function.
Around one hundred volunteers including students, faculty members, doctors and members of the civil defence donated blood on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Sharma highlighted the importance of blood donation and appealed the people to donate blood generously to save the precious lives. He stressed the need for greater awareness and motivation among in the society about the significance of blood donation.
Revealing the steps taken by the Government to improve the infrastructure for the blood storage in the State, the Minister said that it is endeavor of the Government to create the facilities in every district, sub-district hospitals and primary health centres. He said Central Government has given nod for establishing 26 blood banks across the State which would strengthen the network of blood storage in the health institutions.
Meanwhile to cater the increased medical needs of people, the Minister announced a new 30-bedded emergency hospital for Awantipora. He said that a team of officers will visit to select the site and work for the execution of hospital project will start during the current financial year.
Project Director, J&K AIDS Control Society, Dr. Rakesh Khajuria and Consultant Blood Bank, Dr. T.R.Raina also spoke and threw light on the scenario of blood storage and steps taken to further strengthen the network of blood bank.
Meanwhile, blood donation camp was organised here today by the Jammu and Kashmir, Red Cros Society, Regional Office Srinagar in collaboration with NGO’s and Lal Ded Hospital. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr. Asgar, Samoon who was the chief guest, inaugurated the blood donation camp.
On the occasion, the Divisional Commissioner including about 50 volunteers donated their blood at the camp.
While highlighting the achievements of Red Cross Society, secretary Red Cross Society, Srinagar briefed the Divisional Commissioner that the society has collected 1800 blood points in Valley during the last year and 845 volunteers have registered their names in the Red Cross Society. He said that 425 points of blood have also been collected by the society upto April 2012.
The department of Blood Bank ASCOMS organised week long voluntary blood donation activities including voluntary blood donation camps, poster competition, awareness lectures and seminars on promotion of safe blood. Five organisations participated in the voluntary blood donation camps: Coco Cola Organisation Jammu, SAY4 SEWA, Indian Doctors for Peace and Development, Sant Nirankari Mission & doctors and paramedical staff ASCOMS, H.L. Mani Trustee ASCOMS thanked the donors for their gesture.
Trustee ASCOMS D.K. Batra was the chief guest at today’s function. He encouraged the voluntary blood donors and presented the momentos and certificates, specially designed coffee mugs with logo of World Blood Donor day, ASCOMS, JKSACS were released and displayed and distributed to the donors. The highest voluntary donor award was shared by Dr Anil Gupta Professor Medicine ASCOMS and Dr K.S Mehta Professor Surgery ASCOMS followed by Vikrant Dogra Sant Nirankari Mission, GurMukh Singh Sant Nirankari Mission, Dr Navneet Gupta Audiologist ASCOMS, Dr Arshdeep Singh National Representative IDPD, Dr Gaurav Mukheja Final Year MBBS student, Suresh Raina Technologist and Sunil Lab Technician ASCOMS.
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