Murad vows to promote voluntary blood donations

Says out of 240m, only 10% people donate blood voluntarily

KARACHI:

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has expressed his government's commitment to leading the promotion of voluntary blood donations in the province and establishing it as a successful campaign that can be replicated nationally.

He made these remarks while speaking at the launch of "Indus Zindagi," a national movement aimed at promoting voluntary blood donations across Pakistan.

The event was hosted by the Indus Hospital and Health Network at a local hotel. The principal donors of the Blood Centre, Farhan Hanif and Mrs Shaista Farhan Hanif, of Crown Group graced the event with their support towards the initiative. Shah revealed that despite the country's vast population of over 240 million, only about 10 per cent of blood donations come from volunteers. He emphasised that this shortage of readily available blood leads to numerous lives lost every year.

Shah stated that Indus Zindagi was not just a campaign but a collective call to action for the people of Pakistan. He stressed the importance of uniting for the shared goal of ensuring that every Pakistani in need has access to life-saving blood through voluntary donations.

The CM praised the National Video Competition as a significant start to this movement, as it encourages creative individuals to showcase the importance of voluntary blood donation.

He commended the participants and winners for their valuable contributions, calling them the changemakers. Shah pledged full government support for this national movement and urged every Pakistani to wholeheartedly embrace the cause.

The chief minister urged the transformation of the country's blood donation system from replacement donations to voluntary contributions, emphasising that each individual has the power to save lives. By donating blood voluntarily, safe blood can be made available for those in need, anytime and anywhere.

Shah called on everyone to join hands in this noble cause and make Indus Zindagi a resounding success, emphasising that together, a healthier and stronger Pakistan can be built. It may be noted that Indus Zindag" began with a National Video Competition, urging creative minds to craft videos, photos, or animations highlighting blood scarcity or encouraging voluntary donations. The competition received an overwhelming response, with submissions evaluated by a panel of media experts. Winners were announced during the campaign's inaugural event, held to commemorate the World Blood Donor Day. Winners received exciting prizes, such as the newest iPhone model, cash awards, and other exciting gifts. Abdul Karim Paracha, Chairman, Board of Directors and Dr Abdul Bari Khan, President, Indus Hospital & Health Network, warmly welcomed the guests.

Dr Saba Jamal, Senior Director of Blood Transfusion Services Directorate at IHHN, introduced Indus Zindagi stating, "Indus Zindagi is more than just a campaign-it's a national movement that challenges the status quo of replacement donations in the country," she said.