Barsha Rani Bishoya

Sept. 29: On October 1, when the nation observes “Voluntary Blood Donation Day”, Assamese film actors will be seen in the city promoting the blood donation campaign.

Popular actors Barsha Rani Bishoya and Ravi Sharma will flag off a two-wheeler rally from Bharalumukh, campaigning for voluntary blood donation.

The rally is being organised by State of the Art Model Blood Bank: Gauhati Medical College Hospital in collaboration with National Cadet Corps (NCC), Gauhati Scooter and Motor Garage Owners’ Association and Hathat Sangha, a local club. “Through the rally, the stars will help sensitise the public about safe and disease-free blood donation,” Habibur Rahman, director of the State of the Art Model Blood Bank, GMCH, said. “The main objective is to felicitate voluntary blood donors and donor organisations to facilitate the availability of disease-free blood.”

The one-and-a-half hour-long journey after crossing through some of the prominent thoroughfares of the city will end at Pandit Tirthanath Sarma Sabhaghar at Chandmari, the main venue for the celebration. The rally will be followed by a blood donation camp. Minister for health Bhumidhar Barman will be the chief guest on the occasion. Assam police and Assam Institute of Management (AIM) will be felicitated by the director of Blood Bank, GMCH, for their pioneering contribution to promote the voluntary blood donation in the state and in the northeastern region.

P.V. Sumant, director-general of police, Assam, and Shantikam Hazarika, director, AIM, will receive the felicitation on behalf of their organisations. “Most of the hospitals and nursing homes of the city face acute blood crisis. The problem can be addressed by encouraging voluntary blood donors for safe and disease-free blood,” Rahman said. “Voluntary blood donors are the safest, thus our target is to reach and motivate them.”

In spite of having some 2,000 blood banks, the country is facing a severe crisis. “Not all blood is tested since the standards of testing vary greatly,” he said. “In the entire country as well as the region there is a huge shortage of blood.”