Agartala: July 27. Stressing the significance of donating blood as a social responsibility, Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha on Thursday said that the state government is taking initiatives to ensure the availability of blood in all blood banks by organizing voluntary blood donation camps.

Addressing a voluntary blood donation drive at Tripura Poura Karmachari Sangha, the Chief Minister highlighted the acute crisis of blood faced by the state's blood banks during the last assembly election.

“As the Chief Minister, I made an appeal to everyone to step forward and help mitigate the blood crisis, and I am delighted to see people from all walks of life responding to the call and voluntarily donating blood. Blood donation is a precious gift, a godsend within our bodies. By donating blood, we can save the lives of ailing patients," said Dr. Saha.

He further emphasized the importance of blood donation for Thalassemia and anemia patients, as well as the necessity of having an adequate supply of blood for doctors to perform operations effectively.

“The availability of negative (-) blood units and Rhesus factor blood is critical, as they are only found in approximately 13% of the population. Therefore, storing such blood types in blood banks is of utmost importance and will be immensely beneficial. In the 2022-23 financial year, we were able to collect around 42,000 units of blood, and we are committed to maintaining the same momentum this year to ensure an adequate supply. It's heartening to witness people coming out of their homes in a festive spirit to donate blood voluntarily. Donating blood is not just a noble act but a social responsibility, and there are numerous benefits associated with it," added Dr. Saha.

The event was attended by BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharya and AMC Mayor Dipak Majumder, among others, who expressed their support for the cause.

The Chief Minister's efforts to encourage voluntary blood donation and address the blood scarcity issue in the state have received widespread appreciation from the public and various stakeholders. (OVER)