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Blood donation is a year-round social responsibility: CM Dr Manik Saha
Jun 14, 2025Observing that blood donation should not be limited to a single day of awareness, Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha emphasized the importance of year-round initiatives to promote voluntary blood donation as a social and humanitarian duty.
Speaking at the inauguration of World Blood Donor Day celebrations held at Pragya Bhavan in Agartala on Saturday, the Chief Minister said, “Blood has no substitute. Donating blood is one of the noblest acts, as it can save lives and build deep emotional connections in society.”
The event began with tributes paid to Dr. Karl Landsteiner, the discoverer of blood groups. As part of the programme, the official launch of the ‘Tripura Raktakosh’ — a dedicated blood transfusion council webpage — took place, along with the release of the 2025–26 voluntary blood donation calendar and the state health department’s annual publication Swasthya Sambad. Outstanding organizations that conducted exemplary blood donation camps in 2024–25 were also felicitated.
Dr. Saha noted that a single unit of donated blood can save up to three lives. He added that regular blood donations also offer health benefits to donors, including free health screening. He underlined the critical role of blood in surgical procedures, trauma care, maternal health, cancer treatment, and managing conditions like thalassemia.
Highlighting this year’s World Blood Donor Day theme—“Give blood, give hope, come together to save lives”—he urged citizens to come forward and donate blood regularly.
Dr. Saha also informed that healthy men can donate blood up to four times a year, while women can donate three times. He stressed the need to maintain a balance between blood collection and demand, stating that at least 1% of the total population's blood should be available in the state's blood banks.
Currently, Tripura has: 14 Blood Banks (including 4 in West Tripura), 6 Blood Component Separation Units, 7 Blood Storage Centers, with functional blood banks in all six district hospitals, including the Bishalgarh Sub-Divisional Hospital in Sepahijala district.
The Chief Minister reaffirmed the state government's commitment to improving public health infrastructure and ensuring the availability of safe blood.
Also present at the event were Health Secretary Kiran Gitte, Director of Health Services Dr. Tapan Majumdar, Project Director of Tripura State AIDS Control Society Dr. Samarpita Dutta, Director of Family Welfare & Preventive Medicine Dr. Anjan Das, Director of Health Education Dr. H. P. Sharma, NHM Mission Director Prashant Badal Negi, and Dr. Bishwajit Debbarma, among others.
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