Manipal: Donating blood helps in the growth of an individual, said District Sessions Judge Shivashanker B Amarannavar. He was speaking after inaugurating the World Blood Donors Day organised by the district Health and Family Welfare Department, Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society Bengaluru, Indian Red Cross Society, district AIDS Control Society, Karnataka State Government Doctors Association Udupi, Karnataka State Government workers Association, Blood Bank Udupi, Vidyarathna College of Nursing, and City and Mithra Nursing School Udupi at the Atal Bihari Vajapeeye Auditorium, Rajathadri here on June 16.
He said that there was no substitute for blood. “Only blood can replace blood. Any healthy individual between the age group of 18 and 60 can donate blood. Men can donate blood once in three months and women can donate blood once in four months. Blood donation checks heart attacks and enhances production of red blood cells.”
Pramod Madhwaraj, MLA of Udupi, presided over the function stressing on the need for blood donation. He said that the Health Department should organise such awareness programmes in schools and colleges to motivate students to voluntarily come forward to donate blood.
Six blood donors – Chidanand Pai, Vinutha Kiran, Sudhanava Shetty, Sushath Lawrence, Anil Kumar and Uday Kumar Shetty – who have donated blood a number of times were felicitated on the occasion.
The theme for this year’s World Blood Donors Day campaign is ‘Thank you for saving my life’, “Give freely, give often. Blood donation matters” is the slogan.
After the formal stage programme, Amarannavar also donated blood. As many as 50 members donated blood on the occasion.
Kumar ADC, Dr Rohini DHO Udupi district, Dr R Mahendra District Surgeon, Dr Nikin Shetty District AIDS prevention officer, Subramanya Sheregar president Government workers Union Udupi and others were present.