OREANDA-NEWS. Shri Lov Verma, Secretary (Health &Family Welfare) urged people to come forward to donate blood. One person donating blood can save many lives, he stated. The Health Secretary was speaking at the voluntary blood camp organised by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, here today.

The Health Secretary himself donated blood at the camp today. He informed that more than 550 people donated about 378 units of blood at the Blood Camp today. While every drop counts, we still need to go a long way to fill the existing gap, he said. As against the requirement of 1.30 crore units of blood, the present collection provides 90 lakh units, he added. He met a group of thalassemic children who were present at the camp. Total of one lakh thalassemia patients are registered in the country who require a regular supply of blood. The Health Secretary stated that the Ministry plans to organise a blood camp every three months to encourage people to donate blood. He informed that the National Health Mission is initiating a thalassemia and sickle cell programme, and blood banks are being strengthened under this programme to provide the required supply of blood to the patients.

Sh C K Mishra, Addl. Secretary and MD, National Health Mission (NHM) who also donated blood at the camp stated that donating blood does not lead to weakness but is on the contrary advised by doctors to stay healthy.

Several officers and staff of the Ministries located at Nirman Bhawan took part in the Blood Camp organised by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.