Medical Bank urges youth to donate blood

Kolkata: Medical Bank, the organisation engaged in blood donation movement for the past three decades, has urged youths to come forward and donate blood to strengthen

the movement.

Medical Bank was established on December 9, 1980. One hundred and fifty two people donated blood to mark the occasion. The donors were given a certificate and saplings as a part of the Save Green and Stay Clean programme of Chief Minister

Mamata Banerjee.

D Ashis, secretary of Medical Bank said a workshop was organised to create awareness on blood donation among youngsters. There is a ban on people with tattoos donating blood but concealing the fact many are donating blood.

D Ashis said more stress should be given on blood donation movement. Around 15 lakh units of blood are required in Bengal against the annual collection of 11 lakh units.

The national requirement per year is 1.30 crore unit while the annual collection is 94

lakh units.

There are 70 state-run blood banks in Bengal along with 35 private blood banks and 16 blood banks that are being run by the Centre. The blood donation camps in Bengal received a major set back after clubs stopped giving gifts to the donors. Gitanath Ganguly, president Mohun Bagan, Mala Saha, Trinamool Congress MLA and Sujay Chanda, joint commission of Kolkata Police among others were present at the function.