<span style="color: #222222;">Health Ministry today virtually organized a meeting with all States and UTs to review the preparation of World Blood Donor Day. The day is an opportunity to thank blood donors for their act of saving lives through voluntary blood donation and it will be observed on the 14th of this month. The campaign slogan for this year's World Blood Donor Day is &quot;Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the efforts and save lives&quot;.<br />”<br />”Reiterating the importance of World Bank Blood Donor Day, the Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan urged all States and UTs to increase awareness about the need for regular non-remunerated voluntary blood donations, highlight need for committed year-round blood donation, to maintain adequate supplies and achieve universal and timely access to safe blood transfusion. He also spoke to States to build a sustainable and resilient national blood system, to ensure that everyone who needs transfusion has access to safe blood as the country needs voluntary, unpaid blood donors who donate blood regularly.<br />”<br />”He also suggested States and UTs maximize registration of willing blood donors along with optimal blood collection and felicitate blood donors and pledge ceremonies at block, district and gram panchayat levels, administered by Sarpanch. District Collector or District Magistrate will supervise activities in the district. It was also suggested that the pledge for blood donation in both physical events and through digital platforms can be carried out.<br />”<br />”For smooth facilitation of the activities which will be carried out on the occasion, the States and UTs were advised to provide proper facilities for blood group testing on 14th June at all Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres and Sub-district and District hospitals and other blood banks as per feasibility. The Union Health Secretary also urged them to help the common citizens to know their blood group which will be useful in emergencies for the purpose of blood donation. It will also promote the registration of blood donors and create awareness.</span><br />