IEP Chandigarh October 2, 2022
Governor Punjab and Administrator UT Chandigarh Shri Banwarilal Purohit in the presence of M.P. Mrs.Kirron Kher, Shri R.K.Saboo, Shri Anil Kumar Nehru, Shri M.L.Sarin and Mrs.Surinder Paul Kaur inaugurated the Apheresis Centre at Rotary and Blood Bank Society Resource Centre, here today on the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day.
The Administrator said, “Rotary and Blood Bank Society Resource Centre set up by the two NGOs has been running an excellent service in the city and the region of providing safe, tested blood to those in need. Apheresis Centre is yet another feather that has been added to their cap as it would provide blood components to the needy patients – especially those of Dengue and Cancer”.
Commending the management of the blood bank he said that this is the only NGO run, stand-alone blood bank in the region that is engaged in saving people’s lives.
Voluntary blood donation movement was started in Chandigarh which has been emulated across the country.
Mr.R.K.Saboo, President of the Rotary and Blood Bank Society Resource Centre emphasised how the new apheresis facility will help patients and hospitals of the Tri-city. He thanked dignitaries for gracing the occasion.
A senior lawyer, philanthropist, Centurion blood donor, member of the Managing Committee of the Centre and President of the Blood Bank Society, Mr.M.L.Sarin, who was instrumental in getting the grant from the Mo and Minno Sambhi Foundation said that all the machines of the Blood Centre had been replaced and two new apheresis machines purchased for starting the Apheresis Centre, which was need of the hour for the city, especially during the Dengue epidemics.
M.P. Mrs. Kirron Kher said she had been associated with the Blood Centre since its inception in 2004 and was extremely happy with the progress made and the help rendered to the Tri-city in covering the shortage of blood.
Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr.Anil Kumar Nehru thanked the dignitaries and the Trustees of Mo and Minno Sambhi Foundation of the U.S. for the magnanimous donation of U.S. $ 500,000 which enabled the setting of the Apheresis Centre.
Mr.R.K.Saboo and Mr.M.L.Sarin were presented with special awards for their invaluable contribution to the Blood Centre.
The Apheresis facility
An apheresis machine is a device which separates blood into its various components while it is being donated by the donor. Only the component needed by the patient like plasma, is kept, while the rest goes back into the donor’s body. The Apheresis Centre has been set up at a cost of approximately 1 crore rupees.
