World Blood Donor Day was celebrated by Military Hospital in Hyderabad, in association with Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Maitri Blood Bank, Hyderabad.

A blood donation camp which was organized on this occasion was inaugurated by Major General N Srinivas Rao, General Officer Commanding, Telangana and Andhra Sub Area who led the volunteers in blood donation. In his address to the troops of Secunderabad garrison, the GOC reiterated this year’s theme of World Blood Donor Day “ Be there for someone else, give blood, share life” and stressed the importance of voluntarily donating blood as there was a huge shortfall of blood in the country.

He urged the troops to spread the message amongst their relatives and friends in civil so that more people are made aware of voluntary blood donation. He said that the Army has always been at the forefront of all nation building activities and similar camps had been organized in past as well by various units of Secunderabad station as a social commitment to civil society.

Mr Srinivas expressed his heartiest thanks to all the organizers and the donors for conducting the event smoothly. The Commandant of Military Hospital, Secunderabad, Brigadier D Vivekanand stated that the response at the blood donation camp was 'overwhelming' and the Army personnel of various units of Secunderabad military station turned up in huge numbers to voluntarily donate blood, resulting in a total collection of 130 units of blood which would be used for patients in civil hospital in Secunderabad and Hyderabad.

The Commandant also thanked Indian Medical Association (IMA), Hyderabad and the team from Maitri blood bank for successfully organizing the event. Later, Mrs Anuradha Rao, wife of Major General Srinivas Rao inaugurated the renovated Officers Family Ward. As part of ongoing efforts to improve facilities for patients in GOC, TASA presented the Military Hospital an E-Rickshaw for intra-hospital transport of patients. The patient token system and patient vital parameter monitoring systems purchased through the funds given by TASA were also inaugurated. Tree plantation was also held in the hospital premises on the occasion.