ITANAGAR, Jun 14: World Blood Donor Day was observed across the state on Sunday with enthusiasm despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
Participating in the day’s observation at TRIHMS Blood Bank, Minister Health & Family Welfare Alo Libang called for more blood donation activities to fulfil the state’s blood requirement. 
Appreciating the members of Anggong Society of Papum Pare district and Arunachal Students’ Union, Shillong who turned up for voluntary blood donation braving the pandemic, Libang asked the CBOs, NGOs, student unions and the youth volunteers to continue doing the noble work for the needy people of the state. Besides commending the officers of the Health Department for their efforts to promote voluntary blood donations, he called for robust IEC campaigns in coming days to mobilise more volunteers, adding that these campaigns will help in eliminating the myths and misconceptions surrounding blood donation.
Director of Health Services Dr. M. Lego appealed the citizens to promote voluntary blood donation activities in every nook and corner of the state. Highlighting the importance of the day which is observed every year on June 14 to mark the birth anniversary of Austrian physician and Nobel laureate Karl Landsteiner who discovered human blood groups, he stressed on safe blood transfusion to save lives which is also this year’s theme of the World Blood Donor Day.
Project Director, APSACS Dr. Riken Rina mentioned that the state has made a commendable progress in voluntary blood donation during recent times due to more active participation by the voluntary blood donors and received the ‘Best Performing State’ award for achieving 100 per cent voluntary blood donation from the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in 2019.
SBTC Deputy Director Dr. Nabam Budh while stating that the day’s usual activities couldn’t be organised in a large scale due to Covid-19 pandemic, informed that blood donation activities will be arranged in a staggered manner and more donor motivation campaigns will be carried out through electronic, print and social media keeping in mind the social distancing norm. He said that the state is taking the blood donation movement forward and from just 1000-1500 units annual collection a few years back, it is more than 8000 units at present.
Later, a voluntary blood donation programme was carried out at the TRIHMS Blood Bank maintaining social distancing norms under supervision of its In-Charge Dr. P. Sona and Blood Bank Officer Dr. Tashi Paleng where 29 units of blood were collected and 5 donors deferred for future.
Blood Bank of District Hospital Ziro also observed the day and 8 units of blood was collected. Its In-charge Dr. Joram Khopey informed that except for the negative blood groups, all the remaining groups were collected which will help the blood bank to have a stock of at least 2 units of each group.
Blood Banks in Aalo and Tezu also conducted blood donation camps in a phased manner to mark the day. SBTC & APSACS PR

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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