KARACHI: Fatima Jinnah Dental College (FJDC) and The Indus Hospital (TIH) jointly organised a blood donation camp to mark World Blood Donor Day at Azam Town General Hospital and to raise awareness about the significance of blood donation while expressing gratitude to voluntary blood donors.
World Blood Donor Day was initiated in 2005 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The event aimed to emphasise the importance of blood donation and recognise the selfless individuals who contribute to saving lives through their voluntary blood donations.
In this regard, FJDC collaborated with TIH, renowned for providing free-of-cost treatment to Thalassemia patients. For this purpose the hospital heavily relies on blood donations from the community.
During the awareness session organised by TIH, attendees were enlightened about the medical, ethical, and moral obligations associated with donating blood.
The session emphasized that a single bottle of blood has the potential to save up to three lives.
Additionally, it highlighted that blood is recycled every 120 days, making regular blood donations vital for ensuring a sufficient supply. By donating blood instead of letting it go to waste, individuals can actively contribute to saving lives within their community.
Following the awareness session, the students at FJDC participated in the blood donation drive.
Before giving blood, each volunteer underwent a comprehensive evaluation, including weight, blood pressure, and hemoglobin level assessments, to ensure their eligibility to donate blood.
Over the course of four hours, the event collected 13 bags of blood, furthering the cause of saving lives.
During his address on the occasion, Dr Hussain Askary, CEO & Head Community Dentistry at the FJDC, said: “FJDC recognizes the importance of events such as World Blood Donor Day and encourages other educational institutes to also organise similar initiatives. By doing so, they can play an instrumental role in saving lives within their communities. The collaboration between FJDC and TIH serves as a model for successful partnerships aimed at raising awareness about blood donation and making a positive impact on society”.