AGARTALA, June 14 (TIWN): Tripura on Sunday celebrated 12th World Blood Donor Day to mark the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner. Chief Minister Manik sarkar inaugurated the main programme held at Agartala Nazrul Kalakshetra in presence of State Health Minister Badal Chowdhury and other delegates.

Addressing the programme on Sunday CM Manik Sarkar Saying that the voluntary blood donation movement now became a festival in Tripura, urged every clubs and other social organizations to generously conducting blood donation camps to save lives. He said, “It is a great opportunity for young students through schools to help the social needs of the community and promote better relations between people through a framework of friendship and service”.

 He said that awareness should be carried among people at large to come forward voluntarily to donate blood so that sufficient supplies were maintained in the blood banks to meet emergencies or scheduled need. “By donating blood we can give a new lease of life to people. Sarkar said that though schools might not have many students eligible to donate blood, the sensitization would be a huge impetous for the days to come. He urged the NSS authorities to extend blood donation activities in colleges and universities of the state as well.

 Besides, Minister Badal Chowdhury addressing the state level programme this morning said that blood collected through voluntary donation had a steep climb to 98.67 percent. Adding he said, “We now target to take the blood donors to 100 per cent and it is possible only when the people from the age of 18 years to 65 years old comes forward.”

 State secretary for health and family welfare department M Nagaraju said, “At present the state has a total of 6 blood banks and 10 blood storage centers.” Adding to that Nagaraju said, “We now plan to set up another 5 accross the state so that every blocks and sub divisions can get the storage centers.”

Every year on 14 June, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD). The event, established in 2004, serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products, and to thank blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving gifts of blood.

 World Blood Donor Day is celebrated to fulfill the need of blood transfusion and blood products transfusion to the needed person anywhere in the world. This campaign saves more than millions of lives annually and gives a natural smile on the face of blood receiver.