Chennai : On World Blood Donor day, Fortis Malar Hospital recognized and honoured voluntary blood donors for their life saving gift at an event held at the hospital auditorium today. Noted and critically acclaimed Tamil actress Aditi Balan of Aruvi fame graced the occasion and felicitated the blood donors with special

 

mementos for their yeoman service.  

Speaking about this initiative Dr Jyotsna Codaty, HOD, Transfusion Medicine, Fortis Malar Hospital, Chennai said, “The amazing fact about donating blood is that a single donation can save up to three lives, because we can receive different blood samples from a single donor and it can thereby accordingly be transferred to other patients. Any adult over the age of 18 can donate blood and it takes only 30 minutes in any licensed blood bank; and the volume is replaced in a few hours while the cells take around 48 hours to regenerate. A single unit blood can benefit several patients.”

Blood donation helps save millions of people every year. It is a critical element for patients undergoing treatment for life threatening conditions, supports complex medical & surgical procedures and helps them to recover well with a better quality of life. Availability and access of safe blood in requisite quantity remains key components of an effective healthcare system. An adequate supply can only be ensured through regular donations by voluntary and unpaid donors. Around 112.5 million blood donations are collected globally every year. The average blood donation rate in India remains at a low rate of 0.8 only.