SGPC launches mobile bus service for blood donation

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 17

At a time when there was scarcity of blood donors due to the Covid-triggered lockdown, SGPC initiated a move to introduce a mobile blood donation campaign. A special medically equipped bus, with the assistance of HDFC Bank, has been modified for having every facility pertaining to conducting blood donation camp. It will move in urban and rural areas as well.

This bus will move under the supervision of Sri Guru Ramdas Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (Sri Guru Ramdas Medical College), Amritsar.

The bus was flagged-off by SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur in the presence of officials of SGPC and Sri Guru Ramdas Medical College.

Kaur said while the SGPC has dedicated Sri Guru Ramdas Charitable Hospital for the Covid-19 patients, the medical services are being provided to people by setting up Covid care centres at various places in Punjab.

“In such cases, the need of blood was often required at the healthcare institutions. A blood bank has been set up at Sri Guru Ramdas Medical College. Many blood donors who were otherwise committed to donate blood, were helpless due to Covid-19 pandemic, as it was difficult to hold blood donation camps in the hospitals and movement was restricted due to the lockdown. Under such circumstances, it was proposed to prepare a bus that could reach the door of blood donors. I hope this will help meet the scarcity in blood banks”, she said.

She said that so far about 150 Covid-19 patients have been cured at the centre at Gurdwara Manji Sahib, Alamgir Ludhiana. Similarly, a large number of patients have also been provided health services at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib and Bholath.

On this occasion, SGPC senior vice-president Surjit Singh Bhitewad, executive committee member Satwinder Singh Tohra, principal Sri Guru Ramdas Medical College Dr Manjit Singh Uppal, principal of Sri Guru Ramdas Dental College Dr Kavipal Singh and others were also present.