Encourage young people for voluntary blood donation: Azad

"Transfusion of blood is an essential part of modern health care....Safe transfusion requires social mobilisation to promote voluntary blood donation," he said while inaugurating an upgraded Indian Red Cross Model Blood Bank here, coinciding with the World Blood Donor Day.

Focusing on the need to encourage young blood donors, he said it will ensure that there is no shortage of safe blood and also motivate them to take up a healthy lifestyle.

The Health Minister said that a serious commitment is required for blood donation in terms of financial, technical and human resources.

He said there were seven donations per 1,000 people per year in developing countries, whereas in developed nations 50 per cent donate blood per 1,000 people in a year.
Azad also felicitated eight blood donors who had donated blood over 100 times. "Let the centurion donors act as role models to encourage others to come forward and donate blood," he said.

Secretary Department of AIDS Control K Chandramouli said that recruiting and retaining young donors improves the long-term safety and sufficiency of the country's blood supply.