Chennai: Metro Blood Bank, a state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a central point for processing of blood components and their supply besides coordinating with other health centres, will be launched in the city very soon.
Health minister C. Vijayabhaskar made the announcement while participating in a blood donation camp held at Omandurar government multi-specialty hospital to mark World Blood Donor Day.
“State will be able to meet emergency blood needs as we have sanctioned an am-ount of '213 crore for establishing Metro Blood Bank in Chennai. The blood bank will be launched soon,” the minister said, asking youngsters to voluntarily participate in blood donation activities on a regular basis.
Besides Chennai, another Metro Blood Bank would come up in New Delhi, which is being set up by the Union Government.
Though the state has a network of 273 licensed blood banks, metro blood bank will facilitate blood transfusion services. Besides catering to people with genetic conditions, injuries, cancer and blood-related disorders, the centre will also manage supply in time of disaster and the institute will serve as a resource centre for training professionals in transfusion medicine and will also house a bone marrow registry.
Meanwhile, various hospitals across the state conducted several blood donation camps with Kilpauk Medical Hospital collecting 300 units.
“In all, 245 volunteers donated blood at the hospital, whereas other camps had around 80-100 volunteers,” Narayana Babu, dean of Rajiv Gandhi Government Multispeciality Hospital, said.
In order to honour blood donors, Fortis Malar Hospital presented certificates for the first time as well as regular blood donors at an event at the hospital. Many students from various colleges across the city donated blood at major blood donation camps and hospitals.
