Children with Thalassemia under the age group of 0 to 14 years will receive Rs 10,000 per annum as financial assistance. This was announced by state minister Atul Bora while launching a new scheme ‘Thalassemia Support Scheme’ for children with Thalassemia under the age group of 0 to 14 at a function held at Assam Administrative Staff College Guwahati on Saturday.

Under this scheme, apart from the other benefits received by Thalassemia patients, financial assistance amounting to Rs 10,000 will be provided annually to children up to 14 years of age who are registered with the government health facilities. 

The function was organised by Assam State Blood Transfusion Council (ASBTC) and Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) on the occasion of National Voluntary Blood Donation Day along with the rest of the country.

“Under the strong leadership of chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, health minister Keshab Mahanta is leading the health sector efficiently towards a new height. We are confident that Assam will witness revolutionary changes in the health sector & the state will become a “Medical Hub” of the country,” Bora said launching the scheme. 

Bora said, “In a state where the population is more than 3 crore, no person should die due to scarcity of blood. Therefore, there should be 100 per cent voluntary blood donation.” 

“Voluntary blood donation strengthens the social fabric because this is an act of solidarity and a person who donates blood saves many lives,” Borah said.

The minister also said that during the last few years, the health sector in the state has seen lots of improvement and the time is not far from when Assam will become another medical hub in the country. 

Speaking on the occasion, principal secretary Avinash Joshi said, “Blood cannot be manufactured in a factory. Blood is manufactured only in the human body. Therefore, every eligible person should come forward and donate blood. Let’s celebrate Voluntary Blood Donation Day every day.” 

He further said that there is a significant improvement in blood unit collection in the present financial year when compared to the year 2021-22. 

He said that from April 2021 to August 2021, total blood unit collection was 68,130 units and total voluntary blood donation camps organized during this period was 198 camps whereas from April 2022 to August 2022, 94,369 units of blood were collected and 297 voluntary blood donation camps were organized.

He also lauded the efforts undertaken by the department and other stakeholders to make the voluntary blood movement a success.  

Earlier, in her welcome speech, Assam State Blood Transfusion Council (ASBTC) director Pomi Baruah said, “National Voluntary Blood Donation Day commemorates the birthday of Dr Jai Gopal Jolly, a renowned physician and ‘Father of Transfusion Medicine in India’, who also pioneered the voluntary blood donation movement in the country. The prime objective behind observance of Voluntary Blood Donation Day is to make the voluntary blood donation drive a mass movement so that a person gets safe blood whenever required.” 

“During the Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav that started on September 17, a total of 5311 units of blood were collected. This is a great achievement and I would like to thank all the blood donors, donor organizations, blood centres, and educational institutions who have come forward to make this mega voluntary blood donation drive successful,” she added. 

The day was also marked with the felicitation of the 10 best donor organizations that have conducted the highest number of Voluntary Blood Donation camps and collected maximum units of blood in the year 2021-22.  

Donor organization Purbottar Pradesiya Marwari Yuva Manch received the first prize, followed by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and National Medicos Organization (NMO). 

Four best Blood Centres that have registered at e-Rakt Kosh and conducted a maximum number of Voluntary Blood Donation camps and collected maximum units of blood during Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav that started on September 17, 2022, were felicitated.

They include state of the art model blood bank of Gauhati Medical College & Hospital, Blood Centre of Bhogeswari Phukanani Civil Hospital, Nagaon, Blood Centre of Cachar Cancer Hospital & Research Centre and Blood Centre of Central Hospital N F Railway, Kamrup, Assam. 

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