Mobile Blood Bank will tour five districts of the state in a special campaign to promote Voluntary Blood donation. “The mobile van reaches Kangra on 19th Nov and will stay till 2 Dec, followed by Una wef 3 Dec onwards. After this the van will tour Sirmour on 14th Dec and Solan wef 23 Dec, followed by Hamirpur wef 7 Jan to 20 Jan” this was stated by Dr VS Minhas Member Secretary State Blood Transfusion Council. Shimla. Mobile Blood Bank van has 4 couches for blood donation, refreshment cabin, health education cabin and blood donation camps will be held in rural areas. On one hand, this will enable rural youth to participate in the noble cause, this will also remove scarcity of blood. In Kangra District, the Mobile Blood Bank has been attached to Blood component separation unit of Medical College Tanda – so that the components can be made and shelf life of donated blood is also increased. Project Director HP State AIDS Control Society Shimla Dr KS Dogra told that “Counselors and health educators will visit the colleges to dispel myths and misconceptions”. “Red Ribbon Clubs are working for creating a mass movement on HIV awareness and promoting voluntary non-remunerated blood donation among youth” he added. Chief Medical Officer Kangra Dr. SP Singh called upon all nodal officers of Red Ribbon Clubs to become role models of their institution by donating blood. He added that we all should know our blood group and this saves precious time in case of emergency. He stated that blood is the lift of life and stressed that it does not cause any weakness.Dr Bal Chander Blood Bank Officer from Dr RPGMC Tanda stated that the Blood component separation unit at Tanda has become fully functional. he added that In modern medical treatments, patients may receive just specific components of the blood needed to treat their particular condition rather than whole blood. Up to four components can be derived from donated blood. This approach to treatment, referred to as blood component therapy, allows several patients to benefit from one unit of donated whole blood. Deliberating on importance of blood donation, he stated that any health person between the age of 18-60 having weight of 45 kg can donate blood. A Blood donor gets a free health check up besides free screening for 5 diseases like HIV 1/2, hepatitis C, malaria, syphilis. He appealed to all to come forward in the noble cause, and stressed that it does not cause any weakness.Dr RK Sood District AIDS Programme Officer stated that Red Ribbon Clubs are promoting voluntary non-remunerated blood donation among youth through pledge 25 campaign. He shared about the objectives and activities of Pledge 25 initiative. He stated that the members overcome their fears and misconceptions through peer dialogue and pledge to donate blood 25 times in their lifetime. Dr Sood elaborated that pledge 25 represents a revolution in blood banking. Members commit to giving blood regularly and to adopting a healthy lifestyle in order to be a low-risk donor. The first Pledge 25 started in Zimbabwe in 1989 and over 60 countries have either established a Club 25 to recruit young blood donors. Pledge 25 is creating a movement of socially responsible young people who will become leaders in increased voluntary blood donation and community health development. It involves blood donors in health promotion activities between their regular blood donations.
Haemmorages (bleeding) account for 25% of maternal deaths and availability of safe blood goes a long way in reduction of maternal mortality and achievement of Millennium Development Goals on health. Blood transfusion has been identified as one of the eight life-saving functions that should be available in a first-referral level healthcare facility providing comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care. Hence blood storage centres will be opened in Baijnath and Dehra shortly to increase access to life saving intervention.