The State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC), Maharashtra would be unveiling a novel Birthday Blood Donation Club scheme in the first week of February next month. The scheme is an earnest attempt on part of the SBTC to take the percent of voluntary donors to nearly 100 per cent.

The SBTC is already believed to have sent circulars to all blood banks throughout the state informing them about the imperative.

According to the scheme, people who come forward on their respective birthday dates and donate blood voluntarily would be felicitated with mementos and certificates duly certified by the government and other high level dignitary officers. The 1st of every month has been decided as the tentative day where all members who have donated under this scheme would be accumulated and given free prizes and refreshments.

"The decision to adopt such a scheme was essential so that the number of people donating blood voluntarily would soar to nearly 100 per cent," says Dr Sanjay Jadhav, Assistant Director, Directorate of Health Services. According to him the main motive of the scheme would be to retain the existing donors, to encourage replacement donors to voluntary donors, to collect blood in clean and safe environment and lastly to sustain the blood donation drive being undertaken by the government.

According to Dr Jadhav, all one has to do is devote some time on his/hers auspicious day and donate blood at any one of the registered blood bank. "There are a number of people who celebrate their birthday at any given day, if all of them vouch to be a part of the noble cause, scarcity of blood won't exist at any levels," he says.

Greeting cards, donor cards and certificates, all requisites of the scheme, have already been procured and are to be released to all blood banks in the first week of next month.

According to Jadhav, no sooner was the circular sent to various blood centers and a tremendous number of them already registered themselves with the scheme, especially Solapur where about 250 people have already enrolled themselves. With this response, we are positive of attaining a hundred per cent voluntary blood donation very soon, concluded Dr Jadhav.