Pramesh S Jain & Yogesh K Porwar
In line with nationwide celebration on the occasion of Aazadi ka Amrit Mahotsav to mark 75th year of India’s Independence and as a run up to the 75th Army Day being celebrated at Bengaluru on 15 January 2023 for the first time ever, Indian Army has planned mega blood donation drives on 24 Dec 22, across thirty-three cities in eleven states.
On this day, Indian Army personnel and their dependents will voluntarily donate blood to save precious human lives.
This humanitarian drive by Indian Army is being undertaken in coordination with prominent Civil Hospitals and social organisations to ensure that the donated blood units reach the needy patients in time.
Being organized under the theme of ‘Donate Blood – Save Lives’,these blood donation camps are part of the various other events being conducted by Southern Army in the run up to the 75th Army Day on 15 Jan 23.
The Indian Army intends to arrange 7,500 units of blood through voluntary donations and compile a data bank of 75,000 volunteers on that day for blood donations in an emergency.
The blood donors will comprise a healthy mix of Army personnel & their dependents, NCC Cadets, Civil Defence Employees,Army Public School teachers and volunteers from all walks of life.
These camps are being organised in all major cities as well as remote areas in the Southern Command Area of Responsibility to include Mumbai, Pune, Panjim, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bhuj, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Bhopal, Jhansi, Nasirabad, Secunderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai to mention few.
In Pune,the blood donation campaign will be undertaken at four locations to include Command Hospital Pune, Army Institute of Cardio Thoracic Sciences (AICTS), Military Hospital Kirkee and Military Hospital Khadakwasla where approximately 500 units of blood is being collected on a single day.
As part of the larger responsibilities towards the Nation building, Indian Army remains committed to the wellbeing of its citizens. This blood donation campaign shall go a long way in motivating people from all sections of society, particularly the youth in their duty towards the society and participate in such activities which can save precious lives.