On the occasion of World Blood Donors Day on June 14, 2023, the Blood Center of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences organized a blood donation camp to express gratitude to voluntary non-remunerated blood donors for their life-saving gift of blood. The camp, held from 9 am to 5 pm, was part of the "Raktadaan Amrit Mahotsav" approved under the "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" initiative. The theme for this year's celebration was "Give Blood, Give Plasma, Share Life, Share Often".
Students, residents, staff and patient relatives showed up in large numbers to donate their blood. The donors were checked to ensure that they were fit to donate blood and each donated 350 ml of blood. 50 donors contributed to the camp.
The Blood Centre under the Department of Pathology also felicitated its frequent volunteers who have generously contributed blood on numerous occasions. Dr. Anupama Gupta (Director Professor & Head of Pathology), Dr. VB Shivkumar (Director Professor of Pathology and Officer In-Charge of the Blood Centre), Dr. Bharat Patil (Associate Professor of Pathology), Dr. Abhay Deshmukh (Associate Professor of Pathology), Mrs. Shaily Jain-Kalantri, (Public Relations Officer, MGIMS), the blood bank staff, students, and other donors were present at the occasion.
“Each drop of donated blood has the potential to save a life. To contribute further, Kasturba Hospital has pledged to plant a sapling for every blood donation received during the event. By donating blood, you not only directly contribute to saving lives but also help in restoring the environment”, informed Dr Ramesh Pandey (Deputy Medical Superintendent, Kasturba Hospital).
“Blood donation camps like these are of paramount importance in raising awareness about the necessity of regular blood donation, which ensures the quality, safety, and availability of blood and blood products for patients in need.”, said Dr Abhay Deshmukh.
"In order to raise awareness for this significant cause and encourage widespread participation, we effectively communicated the message across our campus using diverse channels such as digital media, display signages, and public announcements at OPDs." said Mrs Shaily Jain-Kalantri.
Dr. VB Shivkumar expressed gratitude and stated, "The donation camp was an immense success, and I extend my heartfelt appreciation to each donor for their altruistic participation. These events play a vital role in managing the demand and supply of blood, ensuring that every patient in need receives the necessary care."