Manipal: World blood donor day is celebrated on birthday of Karl Landsteiner, discoverer of ABO blood group system and is recognized as the father of transfusion medicine. The theme for 2016 World Blood Donor Day, 14 June, is “Blood connects us all”. Celebration of World Blood Donor Day first started in the year 2004 aiming to raise the public awareness about the need for safe voluntary blood donation by healthy persons.

Blood donors are key players on this day as they donate life-saving gift of blood to the needy said Dr. Shamee Shastry, Professor and Head, Blood Bank Kasturba Hospital Manipal. The Blood Bank would celebrate by thanking the blood donors and the camp organizers and would highlight the dimension of “sharing” and connection between the donors and the patients added Dr Shamee.

Dr (Col) M Dayananda, Medical superintendent speaking about the occasion said that, “ Dr. K Sathish Shetty Charitable Trust” has come forward and has associated with Manipal University and Kasturba Hospital Manipal, for constituting awards and recognitions. These awards and recognitions for the organization achieving highest number of voluntary blood donations, Best Technical and also for the support staff would be presented in the Blood Donors Day program on 14th June 2016. Individual donors who has contributed voluntary to the Blood Bank would be recognized during this program.

Dr. Poornima Baliga, Dean, Kasturba Medical Collage, Manipal taking further the Blood Donation drive, initiated the poster and poems competition at Blood Bank, Manipal.

The World Blood Donors Day and Awards Night would be held on 14th June 2016 at 6.30pm at Dr T M A Pai Halls, KMC Campus, Manipal.