Over 50 blood donation camps in city to mark PM Modi’s birthday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday on September 17 will be marked with what is being billed as the world’s largest blood donation campaign, organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Terapanth Yuvak Parishad (ABTYP).

The Prime Minister will virtually inaugurate the nationwide campaign, described as the biggest festival of service to the nation.

Blood donation camps will be held at over 50 places in Delhi. The largest camp is scheduled at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. Globally, around 7,500 camps will be organised in 75 countries, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, the UAE, Australia, and the UK.

The campaign aims to collect about three lakh units of blood in a single day. According to ABTYP president Ramesh Daga and General Secretary Amit Nahata, the drive will involve 75,000 youth workers, 4,000 blood banks, 5,000 doctors, 25,000 technicians, over 1 lakh volunteers, and more than 3 lakh donors.

“This Seva Diwas is our gift to the Prime Minister. There is no greater gift than donating blood,” said Daga.

The initiative is being run in collaboration with four Union ministries — Health and Family Welfare, Railways, Youth Affairs and Sports, and Education. Organisers said the campaign would also strengthen the government’s e-Rakhtkosh portal, which tracks blood bank registrations and daily stock availability.

“This campaign is about changing mindsets. People are often afraid to donate blood due to misconceptions. Science shows the body replenishes blood quickly. We want to end that fear,” said Nahata, adding that ABTYP has been conducting the annual campaign since 2012.

With slogans such as “the pledge of blood donation is the strong resolve of the nation” and “let us fill humanity with life, let us be determined and donate blood,” the organisers said they hope the 13th edition of the mega blood donation drive will set a new global record in voluntary blood donation.