Several blood donors were honoured during the observance of World Blood Donor Day 2022 organised by the Blood Donors’ Community and Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal on Tuesday. The event was observed under the theme “Donating Blood is an Act of Solidarity”, Join the Effort and Save Lives, at its OPD Complex.
Director of RIMS, Prof A Shanta, who attended the function stated that medical science has developed to such a great extent that it is producing many sophisticated equipment, many life saving drugs etc. But till date, blood cannot be manufactured outside the body and there is no substitution for blood except to get safe blood donated from voluntary blood donors, he pointed out.
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He further said that there are many ailments that need constant blood supply and that major surgeries too require blood. With the growing demand for blood to treat all such patients, there is a necessity to increase the number of blood donors by motivating them, imparting the significance of blood donation, the director added.
He informed that a healthy man can donate blood four times in a year while a female can give it three times in a year. There is no harm in donating blood as it can replenish very soon. Donation of blood is the noblest act that every healthy person can do during their lifetime without costing anything, Prof Shanta said.
Head of Department, Transfusion Medicine Department, Prof A Barindra Sharma said that RIMS, having a Nucleic Acid Testing facility from last year, is a great privilege for the state. Through this, proper screening of the donated blood can be carried out to reduce risk of Transfusion Transmitted Infections (TTIs) to the recipient, the professor said.
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Barinder said that during COVID-19 pandemic, the department faced huge challenges in conducting blood donation camps which resulted in a shortage of blood. However, RIMS managed it properly, facing all odds, and conducted blood donation camp 65 times, receiving around 10,005 blood units.
He encouraged all the blood donors and appealed to them to continue their humanity service as much as possible.
Other dignitaries who attended the function were medical superintendent of RIMS, Hospital, professor N Sanjib Singh; dean (academic) and advisor of RIMS, Blood Donors’ Community, prof. Brogen Singh Akoijam and advisor of RIMS Blood Donors’ Community, Laishram Trinity Meitei.
