Record 6,000 people donate blood in Bangalore

Bangalore, Jan 30 (UNI) In what is billed as the world's largest blood donation camp, over 6,000 people donated blood at a camp organised by CPWD in association with other Central and State Government departments at Sree Kanteerava Indoor stadium here today.

Speaking to UNI, Indian Medical Association Bangalore chapter President V C Shanmugananada, who led a group of over 100 doctors and 500 para-medics in conducting the camp, said a large strata of the society, which included newly weds, handicapped persons, top officials, film stars and sportspersons, took part in the camp.

More than 50 blood banks throughout Karnataka participated in the mega event. High quality, hygiene and better standards was maintained for safe blood donation. The blood collected would be used only for bonafide use of the needy. No commercial blood bank was allowed in the camp. Arrangements had been made to collect blood simultaneously from nearly 400 donors, he said.

Mr S Chinnaswamy, Chief Engineer of CPWD and President of Bangalore Blood Donation Drive Society, who was the driving force behind the camp, said people queued up from early hours to donate blood, while in the evening a large number of office goers came to the camp directly from their offices. Today being a public holiday helped a large number of Government servants to attend the camp, he added.

It was proposed to publish a book, bringing out the salient features of such mega blood donation camps.

UNI