World Blood Donor Day is observed on 14 June annually to raise global awareness on the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion; to highlight the critical contribution voluntary, unpaid blood donors make to national health systems; and to support national blood transfusion services, blood donor organizations and other nongovernmental organizations in strengthening and expanding their voluntary blood donor programmes by reinforcing national and local campaigns.
Department of Transfusion Medicine and Blood Centre, KIMS celebrated the day by organizing a blood donation camp, carrying out free blood grouping and felicitating the voluntary blood donors and organizers. The blood donation camp was inaugurated by Maj. Gen. Prof. Dr. P.K. Patnaik, VSM, Director General, School of Medicine and AVM Prof. Dr. R.C. Das, Medical Superintendent, KIMS Hospital.
Blood transfusion helps save millions of lives every year and without this crucial support many complex medical and surgical procedures can’t be carried out in a hospital, Dr. Patnaik said. “With every drop of blood that goes into the vein of patient”, he remarked, “a million blessings are showered upon the unknown donor”, he remarked.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Das said “One donor saves three lives” and motivated the donors to come forward for blood donation and save lives. Prof. Dr. Shubhransu Patro, Vice-Principal thanked the blood donors who donate blood voluntarily and regularly, and save lives every day through their noble act.
Dr. Chandan Ray Mohapatra, Asso. Prof., CTVS thanked the donors and told that without blood (donors), a cardiac surgeon can’t even dare to move his scalpel. Dr. Palas Das, Pediatric Hemato-oncologist and Dr. Biswajit Bhuyan highlighted the importance of blood (donors) in the management of thalassemia and blood cancer patients. Prof. Dr. Sukanta Tripathy, HOD Transfusion Medicine and Blood Centre also spoke on the occasion.
As many as 45 units of blood were collected. Voluntary blood donors and organizers were felicitated by Maj Gen Prof. Dr. P.K. Patnaik VSM; AVM Prof. Dr. R.C. Das; Prof. Dr Shubhransu Patro; and Prof. Dr Sukanta Tripathy. Dr. Aparna Behura, Asso. Prof., Transfusion Medicine, KIMS clarified certain myths and apprehensions about blood donation.
True to the theme of the event, several KIMS staff including Dr. Gopal Krushna Ray, Dr. Debananda Sahoo, Dr. Saroj Ranjan Sahoo, and Mr. Rajib Kumar Jena also joined the other donors in the blood donation drive. Dr. Gopal Krushna Ray, Asst. Prof., Transfusion Medicine and Blood Centre proposed the vote of thanks, while Dr. Suman Sudha Routray hosted the event.