Every year, on the 1st October National Voluntary Blood Donation Day (NVBDD) has been celebrated throughout the country. The day marks the opportunity to thank the blood donor for their life saving gift of blood. The day is celebrated to raise awareness for the need of regular non remunerated voluntary blood donation so as to ensure the availability, quality and safety of blood and blood products for patients in need. This blood is an important resource for preventing maternal deaths, helping the patients of various blood dyscrasias to live long and healthy life, treat emergencies like trauma, planned surgeries and natural disasters.
Blood transfusion is an essential component of emergency health care. Emergencies increase the demand for blood transfusion and make its delivery challenging and complex. Adequate supply of blood during emergencies requires a well-organized blood service, and this can only be ensured by engaging the entire community and a blood donor population committed to voluntary unpaid blood donation throughout the year.
The theme of 2020 National Voluntary Blood Donation Day is “Lets donate blood voluntarily and contribute to the fight against CORONA”
The campaign aims to encourage and motivate people especially the youth to come forward voluntarily and donate blood and be a warrior in this fight against CORONA, to highlight stories of people whose lives have been saved through blood donation, as a way of motivating regular blood donors to continue giving blood, and to motivate people in good health who have never given blood to begin doing so, particularly young people.
In this regard, Meghalaya AIDS Control Society in collaboration with Jingiaseng Samla Balang Presbyterian, Mawlai Nongkwar and Meghalaya State Blood Transfusion Council observed National Voluntary Blood Donation Day 2020 at the premises of Presbyterian Church, Mawlai Nongkwar in the presence of Dr.(Mrs) R. Allya, Project Director, Meghalaya AIDS Control Society, Shillong, Dr.(Mrs)C. Budnah, Member Secretary, Meghalaya State Blood Transfusion Council, Mr. A.M.S. Kharsati,Chairman, Jingiaseng Samla Balang Presbyterian, Mawlai Nongkwar and members and others.
Shri. Sampat Kumar,IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, Govt. of Meghalaya along with Shri. Shantanu Sharma, IAS, Joint Secretary, Community & Rural Development & CEO, Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society, APD, Meghalaya Basin Development Authority, Govt. of Meghalaya also came forward to donate blood voluntarily as part of the blood donation camp.
