Govt officials take part in Balurghat blood donation camp

Balurghat: The department of District Land and Land Reforms of South Dinajpur organised a blood donation camp at Balurghat collectorate office on Thursday.

A source said this was for the first time a state-run department extended helping hands to end the crisis at the blood banks of the district hospital.

About 107 participants, including ADM (development) Ranjan Kumar Jha, ADM (Zilla Parishad) Kajal Kanti Saha, sub-divisional magistrate Isha Mukherjee along with all officials from Block Land and Land Reforms department took part in the programme.

Inaugurating the event, District Magistrate Dr Deepap Priya P said the concerned department wanted to deliver a message to spread awareness about blood donation.

"This is a significant step because the blood banks in the district were dry as clubs and NGOs have recently not organised such programmes because of the elections. The step will encourage others to donate blood," she said.

District Land and Land Reforms officer Pranab Kumar Ghosh said: "Blood donation is a noble gesture. We thought of conducting a blood donation camp in Balurghat to meet the shortage of blood in hospitals and blood banks."

The blood units were sealed and dispatched and the volunteers and hospital staff cleaned up the venue after the campaign ended. Chief medical officer of health (South Dinajpur) Dr Sukumar Dey was present during the programme.

District information and cultural officer Shantanu Chakraborty said government officers actively took part in the programme.