Bhubaneswar, June 15: On the occasion of World Blood Donor Day, experts at AIIMS Bhubaneswar said donating blood improves mental health overall and lowers the risk of stroke and cancer.
The most important benefit of blood donation is that a single donation can save the lives of 3-4 patients, the experts said.
The experts opined that voluntary blood donors, particularly regular donors, are the first line of defence in preventing the transmission of HIV, Hepatitis viruses and other blood-borne infections through the route of transfusion.
Voluntary donors maintain good health, which is required for an optimum dose of blood components
for transfusion purposes.
Similarly, to maintain the balance regular blood donation by a sufficient number of healthy voluntary donors is required to ensure that blood will always be available whenever and wherever it is needed.
Senior Faculties and distinguished guests present in the programme made a call for all healthy donors to come forward for safe blood and blood products.
On this occasion, the Department of Transfusion Medicine conducted a voluntary blood donation camp at AIIMS Bhubaneswar Blood Centre. More than 50 blood donors including AIIMS nursing officers and students donated blood.
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on June 14 every year on the Birthday of Karl Landsteiner. Landsteiner was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the ABO Blood group system.
