Tag: World Blood Donor Day

Human Interest

Goa Observes World Blood Donor Day with State-Level Event in Porvorim

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“Give Blood, Give Hope – Together We Save Lives” theme inspires awareness and gratitude

Porvorim, Goa | June 14, 2025 — Reinforcing the life-saving impact of voluntary blood donation, Goa observed World Blood Donor Day 2025 with a state-level function held at Porvorim, organised jointly by the Goa State Blood Transfusion Council (GSBTC) and the Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS).

Held under the global theme “Give Blood, Give Hope – Together We Save Lives”, the event brought together health officials, educators, volunteers, and donors to celebrate the spirit of giving and highlight the importance of safe and timely blood donation in saving lives.

🗣️ Leaders Applaud Lifesavers, Stress Awareness

The event was graced by a distinguished panel of guests and stakeholders from the health and education sectors, including:

  • Dr. Vandana Dhume, Project Director, GSACS
  • Shri Gaurish Dhond, Chairman, Indian Red Cross Society – Goa Chapter
  • Smt. Meghana Shetgaonkar, Director, SCERT
  • Dr. Uday Gaonkar, Principal, DEd College
  • Representatives from blood banks, NGOs, educational institutions, and donor groups

In her address, Dr. Vandana Dhume applauded Goa’s voluntary blood donors, especially the youth, for their life-saving contributions, and emphasized the need for continued awareness and participation.

“Every drop of donated blood carries the power to save a life. Let us build a culture where donation becomes second nature,” she said.

Shri Gaurish Dhond highlighted the long-standing role of the Red Cross in mobilizing donors and urged institutions to integrate blood donation drives into their yearly social responsibility activities.

🎖️ Donors Honoured, Youth Inspired

The program also featured:

  • Recognition of frequent and voluntary donors
  • Presentations on safe blood transfusion practices
  • Short films and testimonials from recipients and donors
  • A pledge ceremony encouraging first-time participants to become regular donors

Student representatives and educators from teacher training institutes participated actively, taking away both knowledge and inspiration to foster donation drives in their campuses.

“Today’s youth are tomorrow’s hope. If we cultivate giving early, we build a stronger, healthier society,” noted Dr. Uday Gaonkar.

🧬 The Message: Blood Donation is a Shared Responsibility

World Blood Donor Day serves as a global reminder that safe blood saves lives — during surgeries, childbirth, trauma, cancer treatment, and chronic conditions like thalassemia and hemophilia. Goa has consistently shown strong voluntary donor participation, but officials stressed the importance of ensuring year-round availability through regular drives.

The event also spotlighted how blood donation contributes to HIV/AIDS prevention, as each donation undergoes rigorous testing under GSACS protocols, thus ensuring both safe transfusion and early detection of infections.

🩷 Why It Matters:

  • One unit of blood can save up to 3 lives
  • Voluntary, non-remunerated donations are the safest and most sustainable
  • Regular donors help maintain stable blood supplies for emergencies

🏥 Organised by:

  • Goa State Blood Transfusion Council (GSBTC)
  • Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS)

With support from:

  • Indian Red Cross Society – Goa Chapter
  • SCERT Goa
  • Local educational and healthcare institutions
Health

Victor Hospital Launches South Goa’s First Blood Component Centre

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Margao, Goa – Victor Hospital and Medical Services Pvt. Ltd. proudly announces a significant milestone with the launch of its Blood Component Centre, the first facility of its kind in the region.

This state-of-the-art facility further strengthens Victor Hospital’s leadership in emergency and specialized medical care by ensuring the availability of essential blood components, including whole blood, packed red blood cells (PRBC), leucoreduced PRBC, platelet concentrate, and fresh frozen plasma (FFP).

The centre has received formal approval and licensing from both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Central Licensing Authority (CDSCO) — a major advancement for Goa’s healthcare system.
Patients in South Goa had to travel long distances during critical emergencies to access blood components. This new centre bridges that gap, ensuring timely and potentially life-saving access for conditions requiring transfusion support, such as trauma and emergency, major surgeries, cancer care, anaemia, clotting disorders, thrombocytopenia, and severe dengue.

The Blood Component Centre was formally inaugurated on 14th June, commemorating World Blood Donor Day, in the presence of Hon’ble MLA Mr. Digambar Kamat, Chairperson of Margao Municipality Shri Damodar Shirodkar, Social Worker Mr. Yogiraj Kamat, Directors Mr. Varun Albuquerque and Ms. Roana Costa, MS & COO Dr. Ajay Gangoli, and Sr. Pathologist Dr. Eugene D’Souza.
A mega blood donation camp was also held, and the 11th edition of Health Vogue was released to mark the occasion.

Dr. Ajay Gangoli, COO of Victor Hospital, stated that this service not only enhances patient care, but also ensures safer outcomes for people across the state and beyond.
“This also affirms our commitment to reach more people and provide uncompromised care when it matters most,” he added.

Dr. Eugene D’Souza, M.D., Senior Consultant at the Victor Hospital Blood Centre, said,
“This is not just a milestone for Victor Hospital – it marks a turning point in healthcare delivery for South Goa. A key highlight is the availability of leucoreduced PRBC, which undergoes a special filtration process to remove white blood cells. The blood is thoroughly tested to ensure safe transfusions.”

Mr. Varun Albuquerque, Director of Alcon Victor Group, said,
“We are proud to establish an advanced facility that can make a real difference in emergencies. This Centre reflects our values—clinical excellence, timely access, and compassion. It is our way of giving back to the people of Goa by building something that saves lives every day.”

Mr. Digambar Kamat, Hon’ble MLA of Margao, who inaugurated the facility, stated,
“Victor Hospital continues to be a pillar of strength for healthcare in South Goa. With the Blood Component Centre, they are setting a new benchmark. I congratulate the entire team for this achievement and their unwavering service to the community.”

Ms. Roana Costa, Executive Director, added,
“Our efforts go beyond infrastructure. We want to build awareness and inspire a culture of regular blood donation. With our Health Vogue magazine, now in its 11th edition, we continue to create meaningful health conversations across Goa.”

Victor Hospital’s ecosystem is supported by a committed team of super-specialists, enabling the delivery of comprehensive, holistic care across departments.
In line with its mission to promote safe blood transfusions, Victor Hospital is also launching a voluntary blood donation campaign. Regular donation drives will be organized in collaboration with NGOs, community groups, and corporate partners to reduce dependency on replacement donors and ease the burden on families during crises.

As part of the celebration, Victor Hospital felicitated ten selfless blood donors on world blood donor day for their invaluable contributions to saving lives.
A special recognition was accorded to Mr. Sudesh Narvekar, who has donated blood over 100 times, serving as an inspiring example of dedication to humanity and community health.