The Andhra Pradesh State Aids Control Society (APSACS) has received “Award of Excellence” for the year 2013-14 for successfully promoting voluntary blood donation programme in (erstwhile) Andhra Pradesh State.

APSACS was established in the year 1998 and since then it has been in the forefront in taking up various healthcare programmes aimed at curbing the spread of AIDS in both Telangana and Andhra regions. As part of this initiative, the APSACS has designed a model programme to promote voluntary blood donation, which has received ‘award of excellences’ for the state.

Dr. B. Kishore, Project Director of APSACS has played a key role in making the voluntary blood donation programme a big hit. Under his leadership APSACS has not only achieved success in curbing the spread of AIDS, but has also been successful in effectively promoting blood donation campaign. Recognising the efforts of APSACS, National Blood Transfusion council (NBTC) has facilitated Dr. Kishore with ‘Award of Excellences for the year 2013-14’. The award was given by Mr. Lov Verma, secretary for union ministry of health, in presence of Union Minister for Health Dr. Harsh Vardhan in New Delhi.

While promoting blood donation programme in Telangana State, Dr.T.Rajaiah, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Medical and Family Welfare, Government of Telangana State said that more youth should take part in blood donation. He further said that because of the illiteracy, myths and misconceptions associated with blood donation the collection of blood is not up to the mark.

Andhra and Telangana regions require about 8 lakh units of blood every year. At present only about 796000 units are being collected through various blood donation camps. These figures suggest that both AP and Telangana are facing a deficit of about 4000 units of blood every year.

Mr Shailendra Kumar Joshi, principal Secretary to department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare, Government of Telangana State said, “Particularly the pregnant women need blood during their delivery. To meet the requirement more awareness should be created. Particularly the youth should come forward and take the responsibility to donate the blood and save lives.”

Experts say that, every two seconds someone needs blood. The average adult has about 10 units of blood in his body. Roughly 1 unit is given during a donation. Sickle cell patients require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lives. A single car accident victim may require as many as 100 units of blood. In the modern times, blood donation procedures have become safer than any time before. All donated blood is tested for  HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis and other infectious diseases before it can be transfused to patients. A sterile needle is used only once for each donor and then discarded. The actual blood donation typically takes less than 10-12 minutes.