Manipur Health Minister Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh said that the state receives only about 30 per cent of total required blood from donors annually. To narrow down the gap between required and received units of blood, there is a need to conduct constant awareness on the advantages of blood donation, he said.
Addressing the second Mega Voluntary Blood Donation camp at first Battalion MR, Banquet Hall on Thursday, Ranjan said that the required units of blood by the state in a year is 30,000 but the state receives just around 9000 units, which is almost equal to 30 per cent of total requirement.
Calamities can happen anytime and to face such eventualities, it is needed to keep required blood in stock, the minister pointed out. He said that the awareness on the significance of blood donation should be scaled up.
Blood donation is one of the noblest deeds where one can save another's precious life. At the same time, the donor also gets a lot of benefits as he or she can avail screening or testing of various other diseases.
As such, there is no harm in donating blood if the donor fulfils the necessary criteria, he said.
Ranjan said that in rural areas, the number of injecting drug users is increasing each day and this would probably increase the cases of disease transmitted through blood. Support and cooperation from various sections of society is much needed to beat drug menace in the state, he asserted.
Regarding the COVID-19 situation in the state, he said that COVID-19 cases have been gradually increasing in the state after normalcy was restored for some months. The state government has taken up necessary steps to control the situation, the health minister informed.
However, the government alone cannot fight the pandemic and the number of vaccination rates is relatively low in the state particularly in hill districts. So, the people should come forward for vaccination and start maintaining COVID-19 appropriate behaviour, he appealed.
Organised by CID Technical), Manipur Police, the program was also attended by DGP, Manipur, P Doungel as president of the function.
