'Indian Red Cross Blood Bank has changed our autumn into spring and has nurtured us like a mother,' were the thought provoking words of Ms. Anubha, a Lawyer and a blood transfusion recipient, who shared her experience along with other donors, with the audience on the occasion of the National Voluntary Blood Donor's Day.

		A painting and slogan writing activity was organized earlier in the morning in which 35 thalassaemic children in the age group of 10 -17 participated. This was followed by a symposium on "Recruitment and Retention of Blood Donor" and a blood donation camp at Sant Nirankari Mandal, Rohini. All the activities were organized by National Headquarters, Indian Red Cross Society to mark the National Voluntary Blood Donor's Day.
Sharin Ghosh, a student & thalassaemic patient participating in the painting and slogan writing activity organized by IRCS

Prof. N.K. Ganguly, Dir. Gen., Indian Council of Medical Research and Chief Guest while inaugurating the symposium said that, "Donation in any form has been a part of our cultural ethos but donation of blood is irreplaceable. The challenge of today is to increase the number of voluntary blood donors and this can be achieved through peer guidance, appropriate education and awareness generation".
		Prof. N.K. Ganguly, Dir. Gen., Indian Council of Medical Research felicitating Mr. Suresh Kamdar

Prof. (Dr.) S.P. Agarwal, Secretary General informed that " Indian Red Cross with its 108 blood banks all over India is able to meet 10% of the total blood demand in the country and the blood bank at the National headquarter is providing free blood transfusion services to 900 thalassaemic children. He further said, "Retention and recruitment of the donors requires a scientific approach which can be achieved partly if people who are handling it have the right attitude".

Dr. Debashish Gupta, Consultant (Blood Safety), National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), informed the audience that on World AIDS Day on December 1st, 2007 the Prime Minister of India will flag off Red Ribbon Express which will have seven coaches. One coach would solely be dedicated to safe blood transfusion. This express would depart from Delhi and after visiting all the four zones (north, east, south and west) would come back on December 1st 2008. Its purpose is to disseminate information on HIV/AIDS and its precautions. He further stated the augmentation of the voluntary blood collection is the topmost priority of NACO.

The regular blood donors such as Suresh Kamdar, who has donated blood 166 times, Mr. Gabbrudin (157 times), Mr. Dileep Kumar (100 times) and organizers of the blood donation camps like Amity International School (Noida) ans Institute of Hotel Management, Pusa Complex were felicitated on the occasion.