Representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Korea, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka (constitute the SEARO countries) who had gathered for the first ever Voluntary Non-remunerated Blood Donation meet held at Aurangabad last month, have decided to adopt blood safety guidelines imposed by India and in specific in tune with the one adopted by Maharashtra.

At the first ever sub-regional workshop for the South-East Asian countries that was held from the 24th to 27th February, about 39 representatives from various countries were made to work on an action plan that would enable them to carry out and promote efficient voluntary blood donation drives in their respective countries. After the stimulating four-day session and being exposed to numerous facets facing blood safety programmes, what came out from the participants was indeed a boost to the Government of India for the notable drives it has been carrying out in the field.

After evincing interest on the safety patterns followed by India, the participants have decided to adopt guidelines from their active counterparts which include; to formulate a draft action plan on national blood donor programme based on WHO strategies, principles of social marketing, estimating and identifying blood and donor requirements, effective strategies of voluntary non-remunerated blood donation for donor retention and recruitment and identifying media requirements to be used to educate the masses.

From the Indian front, Dr Rajesh Bhatia, WHO consultant, and Dr Pankadan Salil, Joint Director, Blood Safety, National Aids Control Organization (NACO), Government of India made presentations on the overall blood safety scenario that persisted in India, which was well appreciated by the gathering.

Other notable dignitaries who roused the audience's interest include Dr Subhash Salunke, Director General, Health Services, Government of Maharashtra whose proposed safety plans was widely accepted by the participants, Dr Sanjay Jadhav, Assistant Director, State Blood Transfusion council, Maharashtra and organizing secretary for the workshop who shared his experiences on the success of implementing blood safety programmes and state representatives from West Bengal and Chennai who spoke on the norms followed by their respective states.

The four-day meet was inaugurated by Dr. Subhash Salunke, Director General, Health Services, Government of Maharashtra and was organized by the State Blood Transfusion Council, Maharashtra and funded by the Government of India (WHO).