Awareness camp marks World Blood Donor Day

On the occasion of World Blood Donor Day, the Chamba Health Department organised an awareness camp today at Chamba Millennium BEd College, Saru. The event was held to sensitise trainee students about the importance of voluntary blood donation.

Detailing about the event, Chief Medical Officer Dr Bipen Thakur said that the awareness camp was conducted for trainee students in view of World Blood Donor Day, which is officially observed on June 14 each year. He said that this year’s theme is “Give Blood, Give Hope – Together We Save Lives”. Various student engagement activities like speech and poster-making competitions were held in line with the theme.

District AIDS Programme Officer Dr Harit Puri enlightened students about the significance of the day, which commemorates the birth anniversary of Australian scientist Karl Landsteiner, the pioneer of blood transfusion techniques. He informed that any healthy individual between the ages of 18 and 65 can donate blood. A person can donate blood once every three months. Dr Puri emphasized that donated blood is naturally replenished in the body within 24 to 48 hours.

A declamation competition was also held wherein Vandana from Shivalik House secured the first position, followed by Anmol of Iravati House while Shubham from Himalaya House came third. In the poster-making contest, Kailash House bagged the first spot, Iravati House came second and Dhauladhar House came third.

College principal Dr Kulwant Singh, Devendra Puri and Deepak Joshi from the Health Department were also present on the occasion.

Himachal Tribune