Bhubaneswar: To meet the scarcity of blood, police here have decided to conduct frequent blood donation camps in the city throughout the year.

After conclusion of a "Road Run" event held on the theme of "Donate Blood, Save Life", police commissioner Y.B. Khurania told reporters: "A special campaign has been launched in the state capital to meet the deficiency of blood. We have so far collected more than 200 units of blood in January and several such camps will be organised."

The camp was held to mark the 10th raising day of the commissionerate police.

Police said they had set a target of collecting around one lakh units of blood this year for which they will collaborate with students, puja committees and other voluntary organisations. "Eleven blood donation camps will be held in the city in January. The shortfall of blood arises between March and July as college students, who form the bulk of blood donors, are not available due to vacation. We are also encouraging police officials to donate blood to save lives," said a police official.

Earlier the commissionerate police used to conduct four to five such major camps each year and around 2,000 blood units used to be collected.

"We handover the collected blood to the blood bank at the Capital Hospital. Around 100 patients had used the blood from the blood bank on a daily basis. We will also prepare the list of donors having rare blood groups," said a police official.

Several police officials, including police commissioner and DCPs of the twin cities, Satyabrata Bhoi and Akhileswar Singh, respectively, took part in the road run between 7th Battalion ground and commissionerate police headquarters. Around 2,000 competitors took part in the event that had cash prizes.

"It is great that the police have come forward to help patients who needs bloods. I urge the residents to cooperate with the police in the noble initiative," said actress Archita Sahoo, who attended the event.