Record blood collection by Ama Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Nov 02 (UNI) 'Ama Odisha', a socio-cultural organisation has set a record by collecting 9,250 units of blood during its week long blood donation campaign across the state in collaboration with the Red Cross Society.

The organisation's chairman S R Pattnaik, also the editor of the largest circulated Oriya Daily 'Sambad' told the newsmen here that several camps were organised in about 181 centres, including 76 rural areas from October 25 to 31.

On October 26 'Ama Odisha' made a record by collecting 2017 units of blood in a day. On the concluding day of the drive, about 3074 units of blood were collected.

'Ama Odisha' aims to cover all the 314 blocks and set a target of 5000 units of blood, he said, adding it would make the blood donation drive a regular feature in 2007.

The Krupajal Engineering College centre topped the list by donating 356 units of blood with Cuttack at the apex among the districts by collecting 819 units.

During the blood donation drive, the organisation came across many shortcomings in the blood banks in various districts.

Citing examples, Mr Pattnaik said, in Gajapati district the Blood Bank unit had no provision to store the blood for last 20 years whereas the freezing unit in Boudh Blood Bank was found to be ill-functioning. While no required staff was available to run the Blood Bank in Nayagarh and Athagarh, Jagatsinghpur district in coastal Orissa had no Blood Bank at all.

Mr Pattnaik said 'Ama Odisha' had organised such camp in Nabarangpur and Deogarh district for the first time and the found the response of the locals was tremendous.

At many places Muslim women were seen coming forward to donate blood. In Remuna, the civilians broke the record set by defence jawans (186 units) by donating 204 units of blood in a single day.

'' We want to ensure that no one in Orissa will die due to lack of blood,'' Mr Pattnaik said.

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