National Aids Control Organization (NACO) observe “World Blood Donors Day”

New Delhi, June 15, 2015: The National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare observed the “World Blood Donor Day” under the aegis of National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC), at Connaught Place, New Delhi. The World Blood Donors Day celebrates their altruistic gift and thanks the unsung heroes for their priceless contribution. The theme for this year’s campaign is “Thank you for saving my life” focuses on thanking blood donors who save lives every day through their blood donations and encourages more people across the world to donate blood voluntarily and regularly with the slogan “Give freely, give often. Blood donation matters.”

On this occasion, Shri K. B. Agarwal, Joint Secretary, NACO launched the blood donation drive for willing donors to donate blood on this occasion. He also launched the Database of Blood banks on the National Health Portal. The National Blood Transfusion Council has made available directory of all 2760 licensed blood banks at National Health Portal. To begin with the data of all 76 blood banks in Delhi, NCR and 524 blood banks from across the country has been made available and the process of uploading data of remaining licensed blood banks in the country is under process and will be made available soon.

After launching the Mobile blood Bank Locator App to promote easy access of information regarding the nearest blood bank the Joint Secretary felicitated contributors of technology for promotion of Voluntary Blood Donation on this occasion, these include National Health Portal, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DEITY), National Informatics Centre (NIC), Friends2support.org, Blood Connect, Indianblooddonors.com, Think Foundation, Blood On Call, Blood For All and Blood For Life.

To promote Voluntary Blood donation a National Short film contest was also declared open on this occasion. This is being organized by the NBTC in collaboration with friends 2 support.org. The last date for submission of entries would be 31st August 2015. After the recommendation of jury, 15 films would be shortlisted and announced on 15th September 2015. Winners would be felicitated on 1st October 2015 on the occasion of National Voluntary Blood Donation Day.

Almost 500 people had gathered at the Connaught Place, New Delhi to donate blood.

Also present during the event were Shri S P Agarwal, Secretary General Indian Red Cross Society, Dr Arun Thapa, WHO Representative India and Dr Pauline Harvey, Country Director CDC DGHA.