Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada district administration and zilla panchayat, district AIDS prevention and control unit, district health and family welfare office, Lions Club Mangaluru Netravathi, St Aloysius College (autonomous), Mangaluru, Youth Red Cross, NSS Wing and Red Ribbon Clubs of Mangalore University and Blood Bank, District Wenlock Hospital jointly organised 'Blood Donation and Blood Grouping Camp' on account of International Youth Day celebration at LF Rasquinha Hall, LCRI Block.

Dr M R Ravi, chief executive officer, D K zilla panchayat inaugurated the programme.

Principal Fr Dr Praveen Martis SJ presided over the programme.

Dr Ramakrishna Rao, district health and family welfare officer, Dr Badruddin M N, district AIDS prevention and control officer, Dr Sharath Kumar Rao J, medical officer, District Wenlock Hospital, Prof Rajashekar Hebbar C, principal, GFGC, Carstreet, Mangaluru, Prof Vineetha, NSS officer, Mangalore University, Jyothi Shetty, president, Lions Club Mangaluru-Netravathi and Isaac Daren Cutinho, secretary, Red Ribbon unit, St Aloysius College, Mangaluru were the guests. Registrar, Dr A M Narahari was also present at the programe.

Addressing the students, Dr M R Ravi said that youth have become products of globalization. They have independent thoughts and are taking quick decisions. Hence, youth should be very very careful in their decisions. Today’s youth tend to blindly follow celebrities or cricketers as role models. Instead they should consider their parents as role models and lead a moral life.

District health and family welfare officer, Dr Ramachandra Rao in his address briefed about the various initiatives taken up by the district administration in collaboration with various organizations to create awareness about youth health among masses. He emphasized the importance of donating blood along with maintaining sound mental health.

Dr Sharath Kumar Rao J, medical officer, District Wenlock Hospital, briefed about the importance of blood donation and guided the youth to maintain good physical and mental health.