Donate Blood Save Lives! Indian Red Cross Society DK to Observe ‘World Blood Donor Day’
Mangaluru : Every year, on 14 June, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD). The event serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.
Blood is an important resource, both for planned treatments and urgent interventions. It can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with a higher quality of life, and supports complex medical and surgical procedures. Blood is also vital for treating the wounded during emergencies of all kinds (natural disasters, accidents, armed conflicts, etc.) and has an essential, life-saving role in maternal and perinatal care.
A blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system. Ensuring safe and sufficient blood supplies requires the development of a nationally coordinated blood transfusion service based on voluntary non-remunerated blood donations. However, blood services face the challenge of making sufficient blood available, while also ensuring its quality and safety. And locally here in Mnagaluru, The Indian Red Cross Society-Dakshina Kannada branch will observe ‘World Blood Donor Day’ on 14 June at Town Hall, Mangaluru at 10 am.
Addressing the media persons during a press meet held at Mangaluru Press Club Rtn CA Shantharam Shetty -Chairman of The Indian Red Cross Society-Dakshina Kannada said, “We are happy to observe the World Blood Donor Day on Friday, during which we will honour people who have donated blood more than 15 times and 100 plus representatives of organizations that have arranged blood donation camp to ensure that the society never has to face shortage of blood. The Society in honouring them is only repaying this emotional attachment with donors/organizations”.
“We will also be honouring two families, namely Sharavu Raghavendra Shastry-hereditary trustee of Sri Sharavu Kshetra; and the Siddique Brothers, who have collectively donated blood a record number of times. Also on the occasion, 24 youth, both boys and girls will take an oath that they will actively donate blood whenever needed in future. Also Sudhakar Rai from Sullia who has donated blood 104 times will be honoured at a function in Bengaluru” added Rtn Shetty.
The inauguration of World Blood Donor’s Day will be done by Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil, while Dr R Selvamani-CEO of DK Zilla Panchayat will be the chief guest. Felicitation of donors will be done by Prof Dr M Shantharam Shetty-Orthopaedic at Tejasvini Hospital, Mangaluru, while the guests of honour will be – Dr Savitha -Superintendent and Dr Durga Prasad- Residential Medical Officer, both at Govt Lady Goschen Hospital, Mangaluru; Rajashekar Puranik- Environment Officer DK; and Basrur Rajeev Shetty -Managing Body Member, Indian Red Cross Society, NHQ New Delhi.
S A Prabhakar Sharma K A S- Hon Secretary of IRCS DK, Dr U V Shenoy- Chairman Blood Bank Sub Committee-IRCS DK were among others present on the dais during the press meet.
