Health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today honoured nine voluntary blood donors who have donated blood more than seventy five times, and eleven organizations which have organized 100 to 3000 blood donation camps last year in the country. Speaking at a function, in New Delhi, Mr. Azad congratulated the voluntary donors and exhorted the youth to come forward and voluntarily donate blood. Mr Azad said that the act of donating blood depicts humanism and nationalism. He said it is an act which bonds societies and communities.

The Health minister said that the demand for blood has gone up in the past few years, whereas the supply to meet the increasing demand is not sufficient. Mr. Azad lauded the efforts of the Indian Red Cross Society, several voluntary organizations and National Aids Control Organisation for continously working towards the aim of blood donation.