Kohima, July 7 (DIPR): The first governing body meeting for Nagaland State Blood Transfusion Council was held at the conference hall of the Commissioner & Secretary, Health & Family Welfare on July 5, which was chaired by Commissioner & Secretary H&FW, Sentiyanger IAS.
During the meeting Joint Director (BSD), Dr. Limaakum Jamir, presented a brief overview of the mission statement of NSBTC and achievement of NSBTC in collaboration with NSACS/NACO and the State Health Department. While giving the overview, he explained that the role of NSBTC is to monitor the various blood banks related programmes and activities in the State. He also cited that Nagaland needs to extensively spread awareness on voluntary donation of blood and also stated that out of 8 blood banks in the State, only Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung are fully functional due to poor infrastructure and electricity.
In his presentation, he indicated that Advocacy and Awareness Programmes on Voluntary Donation of Blood were held with 10 Directorates in the State in the year 2011-12. Dr. V. Khamo the MO i/c Blood Bank Kohima pleaded for increased participation of the media as the media plays a very important role in spreading advocacy, awareness and sensitization of the people, to which AIR, Kohima readily agreed to respond if informed pior.
The Annual Action Plan discussed during the meeting included- increased Advocacy and Awareness Programmes with all sections of the society, planned for increased Voluntary Donation of Blood; inclusion of representative from the Department of Planning sought; AIR and DDK Kohima on their part agreed to play a more active role in sensitization of the public through their Radio and TV programmes like Swast Bharat and the Commissioner and Secretary, H&FW and Chairman NSACS and the Deputy Secretary (Finance) also called for increase in the States share of the budget allocation. The meeting was attended by the department of Finance, PHQ, Red Cross, NHAK and media.
