IMPHAL, July 6: A one day sensitization workshop on voluntary blood donation and blood safety programme for the media fraternity was held today at the Manipur Press Club. The workshop was attended by Satish kumar Chowrasiya Project Director, Manipur AIDS Control Society; Dr L R Kom D/D MACS; Dr L Tomcha D/D MACS; Dr A Meina Professor and Head of department IHBT RIMS and Irengbam Arun, Senior Journalist as presidium member and the resource persons respectively.
Speaking at the one day sensitization workshop, Satish Kumar Chowrasiya said that the workshop has been organized with the objective of spreading awareness on blood donation and its benefits.
He further said that the percentage of blood donation in the country is below 50 percent as compared to other countries however, the percentage of people coming out for voluntary blood donation in the state has been increasing.
He further said that donating blood is like gifting it to someone who are in need of blood as blood is something which is not easily available in the market.
He further informed that there is the need for the people to know more about blood donation.
Speaking at the workshop, LR Kom said that the one day sensitization programme on voluntary blood donation for media person is been organised to spread the awareness of blood donation and to let the media persons know more about blood donation.
He further said that there is a need to encourage blood donation with the hope that no one would die due to lack of blood.
Further elaborating on safe blood, he said that during the early part of the 1990s, blood which was not affected by the HIV was known as safe blood while after the later part of the 90sm blood which were not affected with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Malaria and HIV are the safe blood which can be donated.
Manipur has four Blood Banks at RIMS Imphal West, JNIMS Imphal East, Shija Hospital and one at Churachanpur District Hospital while three more new blood banks in the state are expected to be set up soon at Senapati district, Chandel District and in Thoubal District, though everthing lies in the hands of the government including the construction of infrastructures and licenses, he said.
Speaking at the one day workshop, Irengbam Arun Senior Journalist said that the one day workshop will help in spreading the knowledge of blood transfusion amongst the media persons and further help to spread the awareness among the general people through their news reports in the state.
He said today is the first time that such types of sensitization workshop on blood donation for media persons is being conducted.
Meanwhile, 64 employees of three state departments donated blood at a blood donation camp held today at the Keishampat electricity office.
The blood donation camp was jointly organized by Districts AIDS Prevention and Control Unit, Imphal West and Association of Voluntary Blood Donors, Manipur, as a part of its observance of ‘No-Replacement Month’ from June 14 to July 13 in connection with the World Blood Donor Day under the theme “Give the Gift of Life: Donate Blood.”
The programme was attended by Electricity Chief Engineer N Sharat as chief guest and Social Welfare Director Th Chitra Devi as guest of honour.
64 male and female employees of Electricity department, Social Welfare department and Directorate of Treasuries & Accounts donated blood during today’s camp.
Kh Samarjit Singh, Secretary of the Association of Voluntary Blood Donors, Manipur (AVBDM) said that a minimum of 1200 units of blood is needed every month at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) while Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) needs at least 600 units of blood.
“This blood donation camp is being organized to contribute to the growing need of blood at the two hospitals of the state,” he said.
A similar blood donation camp was organized at Manipur Police Training College (MPTC) a few days ago and while another blood donation camp will be held at Khwairamband Ima Keithel tomorrow with plans for such camps to be organized in other places too, he informed.
Answering to query of this reporter, he said as there is no facility to test the blood at the donation camp, the testing of blood is done later at the hospitals. If the donor’s blood test result shows negative to any illness, the donor is provided with a donor card and on the other hand if a donor’s blood test result shows positive signs of any illness, he will be given counselling by the concerned officials.