The state having a population of 27 lakh, needed at least 27,000 unit of blood, said experts speaking on the occasion of National Voluntary Blood Donation Day 2013 at Imphal.
Asserting that voluntary blood is the safest blood, Manipur health and family welfare minister Phungzathang Tonsing Tuesday appealed to the young people of the state to donate blood to save a life.
“It has of no value to have blood bank if the blood were not donated,” the minister said at the state level observance function held at the multipurpose hall of the DM College on the theme ‘Voluntary blood donation will cost you nothing but it will save a life’.
There are three blood banks in the state, one each at JNIMS hospital, Porompat, RIMS hopsital, Imphal and district hospital, Churachandpur district.
At least three more blood banks will be set up in the hills, including Moreh bordering Myanmar, this year, the health and family welfare said.
The other two banks will be opened at Thoubal district headquarters and Senapati district hospital, he said, adding, the state already has four blood banks at RIMS hospital and Shija hospitals (private) in Imphal West, JNIMS hospital in Imphal East and Churachandpur district hospital.
In the function jointly organized by Manipur AIDS Control Society (MACS) and State Blood Transfusion Council Manipur, project director of MACS Dr W Gopimohan Singh stressed the need to spread more awareness on VBDs.
He said, “We are gradually overcoming the past misbelieves associated with blood donation, everyone should come out and donate blood.”
The trend of voluntary blood donation has been increasing among college going youths which is an encouraging indicator of voluntarism and awareness, he added.
To mark the day, a cycle rally was carried out on the streets in Imphal under the aegis of Club 25 International, Manipur to promote young blood donors.
The cycle rally was flagged off by state commissioner (arts and culture) RK Nimai Singh (IAS) and also secretary to the Governor of Manipur from Western gate of Kangla fort and covered major routes of Imphal on the way to the final destination at Utra Mamang of Kangla fort.