Red Cross celebrates World Blood Donor Day 2015 in Bhubaneswar
Marking the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, the Nobel Prize Winner, who discovered the ABO blood group system, the World Blood Donor Day was celebrated by Indian Red Cross Society, Odisha State Branch in collaboration with Orissa State AIDS Control Society(OSACS), State Blood Transfusion Council(SBTC), District Red Cross Branch, Khordha, Regional Red Cross Branch, Commissionerate Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, Red Cross Blood Bank, Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Red Cross Blood Bank, BMC Hospital- Bhubaneswar & Central Red Cross Blood Bank, Cuttack on 14.6.2015 at Jayadev Bhavan, Bhubaneswar. The theme of this year’s campaign was “Thank you for saving my life”. It focuses on thanking blood donors who save lives every day through their blood donations and strongly encourages more people all over the world to donate blood voluntarily and regularly.
Shri Debi Prasad Mishra, Hon’ble Minister, School & Mass Education, Industries inaugurated the State level function as the Chief Guest and said that Red Cross movement for mobilization of blood donation in the State are praiseworthy. By expressing the status of blood donation he said that “We have a shortfall of 30% units per year in Odisha. Through enhanced voluntarism we can easily make up the deficit. Till date, 70% percent of the requirement of safe blood has been fulfilled. We must take it to 100 percent soon,” Besides, he added that to achieve the requirement of the blood, awareness should be created among public on voluntary blood donation by all concerns including Youth and Junior Red Cross & Red Cross volunteers.
Dr. Rajalaxmi Mohanty, Director, SBTC joined as the Guest of Honour in the function and focused on various initiatives taken by the Govt. in the State on blood sector. Sri. Babji Charan Dash, Project Director, OSACS joined as Guest of Honour in the State level celebration and highlighted on the objectives of the event.
Dr. Chakradhar Panda, Honorary Secretary, Indian Red Cross Society, Odisha State Branch gave the welcome address & and thanked the unpaid voluntary blood donors for the noble cause of saving lives. By highlighting the benefits of blood donation Dr.Panda said contrary to popular perception, a person’s health does not deteriorate after donating blood. Dr.Panda urged Regular blood donation is a reliable way of updating oneself on one’s health condition. It secures a person from heart attacks,diabetics & hypertension . It is a good way of burning calories and moreover gives the supreme satisfaction of saving lives, he added.Besides, he said Red Cross will continue the movement of voluntary blood collection and to achieve the requirement of the blood in the state can only be possible with the support of all its stakeholders.
On this occasion 26 regular voluntary unpaid blood donors(one male, one female) from each Red Cross Blood Bank of the State, who has donated highest units of blood in the year 2010 to 2014 and in the year 2014 were felicitated by the Chief Guest in the State Level function. The event ended with a vote of thanks by Dr. Rajalaxmi Mohanty, Director, SBTC.
To create wider awareness on the importance of voluntary blood donation,Voluntary Blood Donation Camps were organized at Red Cross Bhavan, Bhubaneswar as well as at Niali and Mahanadi Viahr,where in near about 500 units of blood were collected till the publication of news.Besides an opening song & cultural programme was also performed at State level function by Ms. Little Kar, a Thalassemia patient and her team as a benefited patient motivator, receiving regular blood transfusion for her survival.