Amritsar: There’s no stopping these donors even during pandemic

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 11

A state-level programme to mark National Voluntary Blood Donation Day was organised by the Punjab State Blood Transfusion Council and Punjab State AIDS Control Society at Government Medical College here on Monday.

Deputy Chief Minister OP Soni said approximately 3,79,846 lakh units of blood were collected through voluntary donations despite the ongoing pandemic.

He said at present, the state has 141 licenced blood centres, of which 46 are in public sector, six operated by armed forces and 89 run by private hospitals and organisations. Soni said people should voluntarily donate blood to save precious lives.

Soni also honoured hospitals, individuals and social organisations for their efforts in encouraging people to donate blood. A total of 21 organisations, which had collected over 1,000 units each during the previous year, were honoured. Additionally, 19 male donors who have donated blood over 100 times in their life and 18 female donors who have donated blood more than 10 times were felicitated. The three medical colleges from state — Government Medical College Amritsar, Sri Guru Ram Das Medical College and Adesh College Mukatsar were also awarded for collecting maximum blood through donations.

Three government blood centres in Phagwara, Batala and Gurdaspur apart from three blood component separation centres in Mansa, Sangrur and Tarn Taran were also awarded for their services. Ludhiana-based organisation Bhai Ghanaiya Ji Mission Society was honoured for collecting maximum 6,211 units of blood during the previous year. With 4,130 units, Shri Ram Kirpa Sewa Sangh Welfare Society from Fazilka and Khalsa Blood Donate Unity with 3,819 units bagged the second and third positions, respectively.

Kashmir Banga of Jalandhar was honoured for donating blood for a maximum of 174 times, while Jatinder Soni from Jalandhar for donating blood 135 times. In female blood donors’ category, Sheela Devi from Bathinda bagged the first rank for donating blood 63 times, while Harwinder Kaur from Jalandhar remained at the second position with 58 blood donations till date.

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