Give platelet test kits at subsidised rates: NGO

Tribune News Service

Nawanshahr, July 6

Nawanshahr Blood Donors Council, a pioneer NGO, active in the field of voluntary blood donation and safe blood transfusion for the past over three decades, organised a press conference here on Wednesday. The conference aimed to make people aware through media about the prevention of dengue as well as to promote platelets’ donation on the pattern of blood donation to combat emergency situations arising due to spread of dengue.

The NGO urged the Centre and the state government to provide platelet test kits at subsidised rates to ensure affordable and safe transfusion of platelets among patients.

The NGO’s founder president, Gurinder Singh Toor, founder secretary Pushap Raj Kalia, executive members — Jaspal Gidda, Parvesh Kumar, Joga Singh Sadhra, Rajinder Kaur Gidda, Anju Sareen, Dr Ajay Bagga, Dr Dyal Saroop and others were also present on the occasion.

Experts, Dr Ajay Bagga and Dr Dyal Saroop, both retired officials from the state Health Department, delivered lectures on prevention of dengue, platelets donation, safe collection and transfusion of platelets.

“With a view to ensure safe collection and transfusion of platelets, mandatory Elisa test is being done by the NGO at a cost of Rs1,000 per unit,” said the executive members, while urging the state government to provide the requisite test kits at subsidised rates to blood centres to lessen financial burden on poor patients.

The NGO also honoured nine persons — Rajinder Chhokker, Bhupinder Rana, Rajiv Kumar, Gurmeet Singh Sethi, Mukesh Kumar, Manmeet Singh, Kapil Kirpal, Malkiat Singh and Hatinder Khanna, who volunteered to donate platelets.

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