Blood agencies should be interconnected: Official

Addressing the World Red Cross Day function here, Health Secretary P K Pradhan said a revamp was needed to ensure blood donation scene.

"Networking of various agencies like Rotary, Red Cross and local agencies will help in tackling emergency situations as presently agencies don't give you blood even if you have donated in some other agency," Pradhan said.

He said various blood agencies should be interconnected to ensure easy access.

Lauding the contribution of youth in successful eradication of polio, he said that it was young volunteers who mobilised the community and made cent per cent immunisitation possible.

"It was young volunteers who worked at the grassroot levels and mobilised people by creating awareness among them for the need to get their children vaccinated. Volunteers can play a key role in the success of many other projects," he said.

The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) celebrated World Red Cross Day on the occasion of 184th birthday of its founder Henri Dunant.

"The theme for 2012 is 'Youth on the Move', half of our volunteers worldwide are young people. We at ICRS encourage young people to contribute in humanitarian work," Dr S P Agarwal, Secretary General IRCS said.

ICRS also launched a 'First Medical Responders Project' under which certified medical responders will be made available at community level who can handle medical emergency.

"Youth volunteers from the community will be trained by IRCS with first aid knowledge so that they can handle medical emergencies," Neel Kamal Singh, Spokesperson IRCS said.

"This programme is already operative in the state of Uttarakhand and today it will be started in Jammu and Kashmir. We will start the project in other states too, depending upon the need of the state," Singh added.