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Panchkula, 21 December, 2015: Paras Bliss Hospital, Panchkula, today organized a blood donation camp in association with the Red Cross Society, with the initiative eliciting active participation from the community and over 100 good Samaritans turning up for the noble act.

Blood donors act as crucial lifelines to a large number of patients suffering from possibly fatal conditions. Accident victims who have suffered blood loss often need blood donors to save their lives; patients fighting cancer and undergoing chemotherapy need blood donors over prolonged periods to be able to replenish their plummeting hemoglobin and platelets.

However, unlike in western nations where a bulk of blood requirement is met by voluntary blood donations, India is yet to cultivate a culture of regular and voluntary blood donation. Most of the time donors who turn up in emergency situations are family members, friends and relatives.

“In many countries, there is a culture of active and voluntary blood donations whereby healthy people keep donating blood regularly to blood banks to help them meet the emergency requirements of patients. In India, however, a number of misconceptions and a general lack of awareness prevents people from joining this movement. It is important to educate people that blood donation doesn’t impact the health. A donor is accepted only is he/she is perfectly healthy and fit. The body is able to replenish the extracted blood in a short span of time,” says Dr. Shilva, MD, PGIMER, Paras Bliss Hospital, Panchkula.

The objective of the camp was to encourage more people to come forward and donate blood on a regular basis, and raise awareness about the need for blood donors in the lives of many patients.

“And there are also plus points. One time blood donation can be effective as a person can shed at least 600 Kcal. Frequent blood donation will help in reducing the risk of cancers and preserves cardiovascular health. Donors also have a much lower risk of falling prey to life-threatening diseases. Moreover, upon donation, they can also be tested for several lifestyle diseases and if suffering from any, can be easily cured,” adds Dr. Shilva, MD, PGIMER, Paras Bliss Hospital, Panchkula.

Reluctance of people towards blood donation hampers the health standards of the nation as a whole. Doctors at the blood donation camp stressed on the fact that citizens should consider it their moral duty to help blood banks keep up their reservoirs.

“We are delighted by the response to the camp shown by eager local residents. We would also like to appeal to other hospitals to come up voluntarily and take part in upcoming blood donation camps and be a part in making difference in the society by helping and saving human life as there is not replacement for human blood. We need to work together to develop a culture of voluntary blood donation in India, especially among the youth,” said Dr. Seema, SMO Blood Bank, Civil Hospital, Panchkula.

Paras Bliss Hospital Panchkula has focused on very safe procedure for blood donation during the camp. This noble initiative by Paras Bliss, Panchkula being a mother and child care specialty has brought a new hope to human lives and the hospital wants to be a part of blood donation camps with Red Cross in future also.