Media Release
Udupi, Jun 15: World Blood Donor’s Day is celebrated worldwide on June 14. Kasturba Hospital Blood Center celebrated World Blood Donor Day to spread awareness about blood donation and the need for safe blood and blood products on June 14. Following Covid-19 protocols, people who have contributed the most towards motivating blood donors were felicitated during the occasion.
The dean of Kasturba Medical College Manipal, Dr Sharath K Rao inaugurated the blood donation drive and highlighted the theme for this year, ‘Give blood and keep the world beating’.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Avinash Shetty, medical superintendent of Kasturba Hospital appreciated all the voluntary blood donors who came forward to save lives amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and emphasized the pre-vaccination blood donation drive.
Yash Pal Suvarna, the chief guest of the programme, and Ratnakar Samant also motivated young people to come forward for blood donation. Dr Balakrishna Maddodi, professor of MIT was present. Rashmi and Krishnamoorthy Rao received Dr Sathis Shetty Charitable Trust awards for Best Technical and Non-Technical staff for the year 2020. Abhaya Hasta Helpline received the award for organizing the highest number of blood donation drives in 2020. Sathish Saliyan was felicitated for efforts in recruiting blood donors during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr Shamee Shastry, director of Kasturba Hospital Blood Center, Manipal welcomed the guests and said, “A special focus of this year’s campaign is the role of young people in ensuring a safe blood supply especially during this period of crisis."
More than 70 voluntary blood donors participated in the blood donation drive.